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Steven Defour: Anderlecht midfielder sent off after kicking ball into Standard Liege fans who unveiled huge banner showing him decapitated

Former Standard captain joined rivals Anderlecht and has clearly not been forgiven

Tom Sheen
Monday 26 January 2015 07:59 EST
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Steven Defour left Standard Liege for Porto four years ago and returned to the Stade Maurice Dufrasne for the first time at the weekend.

It’s fair to say it didn’t go well for the 26-year-old.

Defour, the man who captained to two league titles and one Cup, returned to his native Belgium with rivals Anderlecht at the start of the season and got one of the most hostile receptions in recent memory by the home fans.

The Anderlecht man was mercilessly booed throughout the contest and finally snapped in the second half picking up a second yellow card after lashing the ball in frustration into the stands.

“The Liege police are reported to have questioned the leader of the Ultras Inferno '96 group which was responsible for the offensive banner,” Bart Lagae of Het Nieuwsblad told the BBC. “For instigating violence, individual fans can be punished with a fine or with stadium restrictions. The Belgian FA announced it is looking into the most effective way to punish Standard Liege.

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