Man arrested after ex-Newcastle United star punched by fan of his own team

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    A man has been arrested after former Newcastle defender Jetro Willems was struck by one of his own supporters during an Eredivisie fixture that turned sour.

    With Groningen finding themselves 2-0 down at home to Heerenveen with 10 minutes remaining, furious fans lost their temper with players going over to plead for them to calm down.

    Willems, 28, made the decision to climb over the advertising boards to make his case when a fan lunged forward and struck him – with the referee Serdar Gozubuyuk suspending the fixture.

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    With the former Netherlands international unharmed, the game went on with the former Toon man saying after full-time: "I’m from Rotterdam-Zuid, I’ve been through a lot. I didn’t feel threatened."

    Following that, Dutch News report that an arrest has been made by local police, after the club’s managing director Woute Gudde had outlined his stance.

    He said that the punch was thrown by a 'brainless imbecile' adding: "We will sit down with Jetro on Monday morning to discuss whether to go to the police. My own opinion is very clear."

    With Dennis van der Ree's FC Groningen now sitting second bottom of the table following 17 defeats from 26 matches, Willems might be keen to remember happier times.

    The left-back spent the first half of the 2019/20 season on loan at St James' Park, scoring twice across 20 matches as Steve Bruce's men finished 13th in the table.

    Willems scored a memorable opening goal against Liverpool at Anfield as well as an equaliser at home against Manchester City before his season was cut short by an ACL injury.

    Willems went on to join Greuther Furth in 2021 and then Groningen last year, insisting that his clash with a fan hasn't left him shaken.

    Last year in the Premier League, an Everton fan was caught smacking the bottom of Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen from across the adverting board.

    Back in 2017, Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes appeared to be hit by a fan that was carrying a child, with the club later fined.

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    • Eredivisie
    • Premier League
    • Newcastle United FC

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