Union Saint-Gilloise ‘fear for survival’ over stadium deadlock
The future of Union Saint-Gilloise in professional football “remains uncertain” due to lack of progress on its plans for a new stadium, the club said in a statement on Friday.
The existing ground, the Stade Joseph Marien in Park Duden, does not meet UEFA seating requirements for top-class football and cannot be extended. A year ago, the club, the Brussels-Capital Region and the municipality of Forest reached a declaration of intent concerning the project to build a new stadium on the Bempt site in Forest.
Union carried out additional studies on the mobility and environmental impact, organised an architectural competition to ensure the project would blend harmoniously into its surroundings, and developed the plans based on the recommendations of a feasibility study for submission to the regional permit application procedures.
However, the municipality has still not submitted the file for a vote in the municipal council one year later. “Unfortunately, we have to conclude that there is no will to respect the promises made and find a solution within the current administration,” the club said.
The club fears for its survival if no progress is made soon. “Union’s future in professional football remains uncertain,” it said. It hopes that “common sense will prevail after the municipal elections” in October but is examining “all possible short- and long-term alternatives”.
Union were promoted to the Jupiler Pro League, Belgium’s top division, in 2021, and have since finished runners-up twice, leading to European qualification for the first time since the 1960s.
Fans at the Stade Joseph Marien watch Union Saint-Gilloise take on Club Brugge, May 2022 © MATTEO COGLIATI / HANS LUCAS
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