A Belgian second division promotion play-off semi-final between Beerschot and Patro Eisden was temporarily halted on Monday after home supporters directed abusive chants towards visiting midfielder Radja Nainggolan. The match, which Beerschot ultimately won 3-2 in extra time to advance to the final, was stopped by the referee following the persistent targeting of Nainggolan, whose mother passed away in 2010.
The incident occurred after Nainggolan, a former Belgian international with 30 caps for the Red Devils, had put Patro Eisden ahead 2-1 in the second half. According to DAZN Belgique footage, the 36-year-old midfielder responded to the chants from the stands, which led to objects, including cups, being thrown onto the pitch. Patro Eisden coach Stijn Stijnen defended his player, stating the referee was right to interrupt the match. "It wouldn't stop, the referee was right to interrupt the match. Radja remained very calm, even in the first leg where he had already been insulted. He lost his mother and suffered enormously from that loss. Everyone knows how sensitive a subject this is for him," Stijnen said.
Once order was restored, the match resumed, but Nainggolan was substituted shortly thereafter in a surprising tactical move. He was replaced by assistant coach Yassin Gueroui, who had not played a professional match since 2024. The substitution did not yield the desired result for Patro Eisden, as Beerschot scored a late equalizer before securing victory in extra time.
The match had begun in dramatic fashion, with Beerschot awarded a penalty after just 14 seconds, converted by Brian Plat. Nainggolan's goal had appeared to put his side on course for the final before the unsavory incidents unfolded. The former Roma, Inter Milan, and Cagliari star joined Patro Eisden, a club in Belgium's second amateur tier, in 2023, bringing significant experience to the squad.
The events cast a shadow over a crucial match in the Belgian football pyramid, where clubs battle for a place in the top-flight Jupiler Pro League. Beerschot will now face Lommel SK in the final, with the winner earning promotion. The episode also raises questions about fan conduct in high-stakes, lower-league environments, where players can become targets for intense psychological pressure.
