No prosecutions but a fine for FC Twente collapsed stadium construction firms

Photo: FC Twente

Nobody will be prosecuted for the partial collapse of the FC Twente stadium in 2011 that killed two people and injured nine others, reports the Dutch prosecutor on Thursday.

Instead, it has agreed a fine of €50,000 each for the building consortium Grolsch Veste and the Voortman Staalbouw construction firm. Each must also put €75,000 in a victim support fund.

Research showed the structure of De Grolsch Veste stadium was not fit for purpose, so the employees of both companies were at risk and they violated health and safety legislation. The deal means they will avoid criminal proceedings.

The roof collapsed on July 7th, 2011, while builders were working on the construction. Most people in the stadium at the time were employees of the building companies, or volunteers who were cleaning and setting out seats.

The OM prosecution service said it had opted for a deal since: ‘the companies concerned have already taken measures to improve safety…and criminal proceedings could only impose a fine as punishment. The victims in this case found it important that those responsible had some kind of punishment.’

Earlier this month it was announced that the project manager and executor would also not face prosecution.

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