Prosecutor wants Ajacied Berghuis suspended three duels for hitting Twente fan

Ajax player Steven Berghuis faces a three game suspension, one of which is conditional, following his slapping move toward an FC Twente fan. After the league match in Enschede on May 28, Berghuis lashed out at the players’ bus.

“His action brought professional soccer and soccer in general into disrepute. The prosecutor includes in the settlement proposal that Berghuis has an exemplary role as a player, but also that he was provoked by grossly insulting remarks,” said the KNVB.

If Berghuis accepts the punishment, he will miss the first three league games. The striker received his fifth yellow card of the season against FC Twente, which automatically means one game suspension. That would add two more. If Berghuis does not accept the offer, the disciplinary committee will look into the matter.

Ajax’s club management fined Berghuis for the incident in which Berghuis allegedly reacted to a racist remark made toward teammate Brian Brobbey, according to Twente regional newspaper Tubantia.

Berghuis apologized for his action. “I regret my action, I shouldn’t have done this,” the Oranje international said. “After every away game we get a lot of curses thrown at us at the bus, while we make time to hand out autographs to fans who ask for them.”

“I’m used to a bit by now, but people think they can just shout anything. My reaction doesn’t solve anything, I understand that too. It’s not good, I have an example function as an Ajax player,” Berghuis said.