Thousands of fans support Dutch soccer player after death of daughter

Thousands of fans of a Dutch second-tier club lit sparklers in the stands to support a soccer player and his partner on Friday, after the death of their newborn baby.

NAC Breda, who compete in Eerste Divisie, said in a statement on Wednesday that 34-year-old midfielder Mats Seuntjens and his partner, Elba, had lost their daughter, Celine Inaya Seuntjens Silva.

Two days later, Seuntjens came on as a 55th-minute substitute as NAC were defeated 2-0 by VVV-Venlo in their first home match of the 2026-27 season.

After the defeat, thousands of fans remained in the 20,500-capacity Rat Verlegh Stadion, and lit sparklers, unfurled banners and chanted in support of Seuntjens and his partner, who were visibly moved by the tributes.

Zoveel meer dan voetbal.. #NACpraat pic.twitter.com/2IaY10Bg4Q

— NAC Breda (@NACnl) August 14, 2026

NAC defender Jan Van den Bergh said, via ESPN NL: “Even now, after the game, you can see what this club means in the grieving process, and that’s both incredibly beautiful and sad at the same time. It was loud and quiet all at once.

“It’s an indescribable feeling. It’s just a whole mix of emotions. I can’t find the right words for it.”

VVV-Venlo coach Marinus Dijkhuizen said: “These kinds of things cut to the bone.”

Upon appearing from the bench, Seuntjens made his first appearance for NAC since re-joining the club this summer from FC Groningen. He came through NAC’s academy and made 130 appearances for the Dutch side before moving on to AZ Alkmaar in July 2016.

On Friday, tributes were also paid before the match to NAC’s former manager Bob Maaskant, who died at the age of 88 in June.