Berghuis, sanctioned for his viral attack on a fan

Steven Berghuis will miss the first three games of the 2023-2024 season after being sanctioned today by the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB). Two of these matches must be met by the Ajax player for attacking a fan moments after losing at home to Twente on May 28 in a match on the last day of the Eredivisie (3-1).

In the viral video circulating on social networks you can see Berghuis throwing a punch at an alleged Twente fan who was on the other side of the fence when he was about to board the Ajax bus outside the De Grolsch Veste stadium in Enschede.

According to the Dutch press, Berghuis’ reaction happened in response to a racist slur against his partner Brian Brobbey. The Netherlands international later apologized for the incident.

“Steven Berghuis accepted on Monday a proposal from the professional football prosecutor to exclude three matches, one of which is conditional,” the KNVB said in a statement. “He will miss the first three league games of the 2023-24 season as a result, including one due to seeing a fifth yellow.” The Ajax player was booked in the final moments of that match.

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Berghuis joined Ajax from Feyenoord at the start of the 2021-22 season in a move that caused controversy in the Netherlands due to the intense rivalry between the two clubs.

Berghuis was voted Ajax’s best player in a season to forget as the Amsterdam team finished third in the Eredivisie and outside the two Champions League qualifying spots for the first time since 2009.