Man City fan, 63, fighting for his life after he was attacked by ‘cowardly’ Club Brugge fans

Five people have been arrested by Belgian police as a Manchester City fan fights for his life after a ‘cowardly’ attack by Club Brugge fans following Tuesday night’s Champions League encounter.

A 63-year-old Belgian, who is part of City supporters’ group called Blue Moon Belgium, was attacked at a service station at 10.40pm while on his way back from watching the 5-1 drubbing by the English side at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges. 

Police have detailed that there was a confrontation in the car-park of the E40 Drongen service station which has left the supporter in ‘mortal danger’. 

The fan, named locally as Guido, had his Manchester City scarf ripped from his neck and when he went to retrieve it he received a ‘heavy blow to the head,’ according to his son Jurgen.

Guido was rushed in a coma to the nearby AZ Maria Middelares hospital in Ghent, according to Belgian paper Het Laatste Nieuws. 

There were multiple witnesses and the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed five people were arrested last night as part of the investigation. 

Jurgen, who is co-chair of the supporters’ club, wrote on its Facebook page: ‘My father was the victim of a cowardly attack for his City scarf at a stopover in Drugen. We hope the perpetrators are found and punished. 

A Belgium-based Manchester City fan, 63, is fighting for his life in a coma having been attacked following the conclusion of a 5-1 Champions League win away at Club Brugge

Jurgen, son of the attacked supporter, hit out at the ‘cowardly’ and ‘senseless’ violence in a statement made by Blue Moon Belgium on Wednesday morning after he was ‘left for dead’

‘We have been everywhere in England and the rest of Europe, never aggression. We come to Belgium once and you will be left for dead.

‘Keep on fighting daddy. City love, Jurgen.’ 

Jurgen explained that his father was waiting for two friends when he was confronted. 

He said Guido was approached by a Brugge supporter and the City scarf was taken from him. 

‘When my dad asked for his scarf back, he received a heavy blow to the head, after which the perpetrators fled and left my dad for dead,’ Jurgen told HLN. 

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford tweeted one red heart and one blue heart to represent a city united as he responded to the well wishes of City winger Raheem Sterling

Sterling’s City team-mates also sent their best wishes after the club addressed the attack

Brugge said they are ‘horrified’ by the attack and ‘strongly disapproves’ of the behaviour.

‘Club Brugge was horrified to learn of the events at the E40 motorway parking lot in Drongen where a Manchester City supporter, who had previously been a guest at the Jan Breydel Stadium, was attacked,’ they said. 

‘Club Brugge strongly disapproves of all criminal behaviour both inside and outside the stadium and puts tolerance first. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the Manchester City supporter.’ 

A Manchester City statement added: ‘Everyone at Manchester City is shocked and saddened to hear reports of an attack on one of our supporters after the Champions League game in Bruges last night.

‘We are currently working with our counterparts at Club Brugge as well as Belgian and Greater Manchester Police to establish more information.

The supporter wore a City scarf before he was attacked at a service station by a rival fan

‘Our thoughts and best wishes go out to the family and friends of the Belgian based supporter, who remains in hospital.’

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford tweeted one red heart and one blue heart to represent a city united as he responded to the well wishes of City winger Raheem Sterling towards the stricken fan.

Along with Guido, there were more than 200 Belgian-based Manchester City fans that form part of the Blue Moon Belgium group which attended the match. 

City dominated events in Brugge as they ran out 5-1 winners. 

Goals from Joao Cancelo, Kyle Walker and Cole Palmer, as well as a brace from Riyad Mahrez, ensured a comfortable 5-1 win for Pep Guardiola’s side.