The Netherlands is no stranger to fierce derbies. Games like De Klassieker (Ajax vs Feyenoord) are often hotly contested on and off the field.
One place you might not expect to see controversy, however, is in a second-tier match between two teams who, with all due respect, are not among Holland’s most popular. But, in a match between Helmond Sport and VVV-Venlo on Friday night, tempers were flaring.
What did the Helmond Sport banner say?
The banner, which was held up by Helmond Sport supporters before the game, read “VVV = Vier Vingers Verloren”. Translated into English, this means “VVV = Four Fingers Lost”.
What did the Helmond Sport banner mean?
While at first the banner is a little confusing, once you know the context you realise that it is actually mocking a VVV supporter. According to X account @thecasualultra, in October of last year, the last time these two teams met, a VVV supporter had some of his fingers blown off when a firework exploded in his hand.
It just so happens that in Dutch, “Four Fingers Lost” can be written as “Vier Vingers Verloren”, and so the Helmond Sport supporters are, rather harshly, mocking the supporter who suffered the injury.
Helmond Sport won that October game 4-0, likely increasing the bad feeling between the two sets of fans.
While not thought of as one of the major Dutch derbies, the cities of Helmond and Venlo are only about half an hour apart. If banners like this are anything to go by, then the dislike each set of fans hold for their neighbours is fierce enough.