BSC Young Boys manager Gerardo Seoane has issued an apology following the unruly behaviour of the club’s travelling supporters during their Europa League fixture against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The match ended 2-1 in favour of Aston Villa, thanks to a brace from Donyell Malen. However, the atmosphere turned sour after each goal. When Malen opened the scoring with a header past Young Boys goalkeeper Marvin Keller, the Swiss fans reacted by hurling objects onto the pitch. After Malen’s second goal, tensions among the Young Boys fans escalated further despite attempts by their captain, Loris Benito, to calm the crowd.
The situation worsened as police and stewards were forced to intervene amid the chaos. Away supporters began throwing drinks and even ripping seats from the stands, escalating the disorder inside the stadium.
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In the post-match press conference, Seoane acknowledged the incident, attributing some responsibility to a moment of “provocation,” although he emphasized the emotional nature of football celebrations. “When you score a goal, it’s natural to want to celebrate with your teammates,” Seoane remarked. “Perhaps it was perceived as a provocation by our fans, but that’s part of football emotions. Our supporters should not have reacted so aggressively.”
Seoane detailed how the referee had requested their captain to address the supporters to help ease the tension. However, when supporters approached to discuss the situation, police responded swiftly, believing there was an imminent pitch invasion, which was not the case. “I think the police intervention was a bit premature,” he added.
Expressing regret, Seoane said, “It’s a pity for everybody – for the provocations, for the objects thrown, and for the fear that someone might jump onto the pitch. None of this reflects the conduct we want as guests, and we sincerely apologise. This situation benefits no one; in the end, everyone loses.”
He also clarified that the provocation was unintentional, more a product of joy than rivalry. “Football is full of emotions. Sometimes after a goal scored in front of the opposing fans, there are unspoken rules about not provoking. Nobody did so on purpose. The break in play even helped us calm down after a challenging first half, but that’s no excuse.”
Seoane wrapped up by acknowledging the disappointing outcome of the events, reinforcing the club’s commitment to ensuring such incidents do not recur during away matches.