Yesterday, Friday 11th September 2009, Anderlecht president Roger Vanden Stock talked to the press for the first time since the tragic match RSCA-Standard on Sunday 30th August 2009, during which both Jan Polak and Marcin Wasilewski received heavy injuries. "I was tremendously disappointed that night, this was the first time I have ever left a mach before the final whistle, that is just how mad and disappointed I was", Vanden Stock said. "But I am not vindictive and I am now reaching out to Standard. Let’s turn over a new leaf and wipe the slate clean."

During the notorious match, Sporting’s president visited the changing room during half-time. "Normally, I never do so, but I felt it was my duty that night. What I saw there with Wasyl was terrible, which of course did not help to channel my inner anger", Vanden Stock said. "Eight minutes before the end of the match, I left to go home, I just had to get out of the stadium. At home, I watched the pictures again, after which it took a while for me to catch some sleep..."

"After that match against Standard, I had two possibilities: either quit, because it is not worth it anymore, or return to what football really stands for. I have been in this business for 67 years and I just can’t let help it. Football is still my life", the president said. "But football in Belgium is ill, needs peace and has to question itself. No war like there is one going on right now, that is not the answer. Football is worth more than a war between two clubs", the president said. "We have to think of the future and turn over a new leaf. I want the past to be a closed issue. I will, however, keep thinking about the victims: Jan Polak en Marcin Wasilewski."

As Marcin Wasilewski’s career could be in danger, Anderlecht are considering instituting legal proceedings, together with the player. "Don’t think of this as an attack on Standard", RSCA’s president said, "but as a protection of the rights of a player, who may never be able to play again. We at least owe it to him to investigate, together with our lawyers, how we should act. We are still talking about the career of an international player", he emphasized. "But the decision has not been made yet, we still don’t know how Wasyl’s situation will turn out. If he were never to play again, I think he should be entitled to compensation, which is not an option if we don’t take this matter to court."

Meanwhile, Axel Witsel’s penalty has been assessed. Anderlecht’s president, however, was not willing to say much about that. "That’s the verdict. We can think whatever we want: too long, too short, but it is what it is", the president said. "I hope that Standard will accept us reaching out to them and that we can start rebuilding Belgian football like that."

"Jacobs best coach in Belgium"

Ever since the match, Anderlecht coach Ariël Jacobs has repeated that he wants to leave the football business a few times. RSCA’s president hopes that he will reconsider this decision. "Ariël is a gentleman and, for a gentleman, it is sometimes difficult to live in a world like the one of the past few weeks", Vanden Stock said. "I understand that he is very disillusioned. But if Jacobs were to quit, it would be an enormous loss for Belgian football. I will, however, do everything within my power to convince him to stay with us as coach. For me, Ariël is one of the best coaches, if not the best, in Belgium."