Supporters of SC Cambuur were left with “burns, hearing damage, and eye injuries” after fireworks were thrown by Feyenoord fans during a Dutch Eredivisie match on Sunday.

Sunday's match at Cambuur's Kooi Stadion was suspended for more than 10 minutes in the first half after supporters in the away section lit a large number of red flares and launched pyrotechnics. Many were thrown in the direction of the sections of the stadium containing Cambuur fans, while another landed and detonated on the pitch, a short distance from Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst.

Cambuur, promoted to the top division this year, said seven of its fans sustained injuries, including skin burns, hearing damage and eye injuries, and the club would work with the individuals impacted to provide appropriate aftercare and assistance.

“The club will file an official complaint against the perpetrators,” Cambuur added. “The search for these individuals is being led by Feyenoord and in cooperation with all involved parties.”

Feyenoord vows to punish perpetrators

Feyenoord said in a statement that it would “thoroughly investigate” the incident and pledged to identify the perpetrators, who would be handed stadium bans.

“The injuries, in particular, are of course terrible,” Feyenoord's general manager Robert Eenhoorn said. “Above all, I hope those people are doing well.

“Our own goalkeeper had a flare fired at him and only just managed to avoid it.

“This problem obviously does not only affect Feyenoord and is unfortunately something we have been unable to put a stop to for decades. We will therefore have to sit down again with all stakeholders, clubs, the KNVB (Dutch Football Association), and the authorities to look for a solution together.”

Feyenoord added that their head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who was assistant to Arne Slot at Liverpool during the 2025-26 season, had offered his apologies to Cambuur. Feyenoord captain Luciano Valente said the team “did not support” the use of fireworks, adding: “This does not belong in football.”

KNVB opens its own investigation

The KNVB confirmed on Monday it would launch its own investigation, alongside that of the clubs.

“The aim is to determine whether the clubs are at fault,” the statement read. “Feyenoord particularly will focus on the identity of the perpetrators so that they can be punished. From the KNVB's perspective, possible sanctions for misconduct include fines and nationwide stadium bans.”

The incident is the latest in a series of fireworks-related disruptions in Dutch football. In November 2025, Ajax's league match against Groningen was abandoned in the sixth minute after fireworks and flares were ignited behind one of the goals, with Ajax calling the incident “utterly outrageous”. In May 2023, Groningen fans throwing fireworks onto the pitch saw their home game against Ajax abandoned after nine minutes, and in September that year, Ajax's match against Feyenoord — the rivalry known as De Klassieker — was abandoned when fireworks were thrown on the pitch, before later being played to a finish behind closed doors.

Feyenoord won Sunday's match 5-2, extending their unbeaten start to the Eredivisie campaign, while Cambuur have lost each of their three games in the top flight.