Over 300 hundred Charlton fans traveled to the Belgian City of Sint-Truiden on Saturday, to make clear to their owner, Roland Duchatelet, that they want him gone. The streets of Sint-Truiden were filled with protesting Charlton fans who marched, chanted and called for him to sell. Below shows the Unity Protest in videos, pictures, and tweets.
Charlton Athletic have seen their club freefall from 8th place in the Sky Bet Championship (2013/2014 season) to a relegation fight in order for the Addicks to maintain their League One status (16th in League One, six points above the drop zone). The disarray currently being experienced at the Southeast London outfit has been caused by incompetent decisions from senior management and the ownership at Charlton.
The Addicks have witnessed managerial changes closer to ten since January 2014, with the current number at eight when you take into account the two interims (Karel Fraeye and Kevin Nugent). It was unveiled last month that Roland Duchatelet was directly interfering with team selections, formations, and tactics while the Charlton legend, Chris Powell was at the managerial reigns. Not only has the performances on the pitch had a direct hit by the current ownership and senior management’s decisions, their attitude towards the fans has been concerning. The CEO of Charlton, Katrien Meire, referred to the relationship fans have with football clubs, in terms of feeling ownership as “very weird”, and compared the relationship with fans who attended a restaurant or cinema. To add to the embarrassment, last summer Roland Duchatelet stated that the fans wanted the club to fail.
As a result of the turmoil at the Southeast London outfit, there are several protest groups which have arisen out of the discontent and revolt taking place. The likes of the Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet (CARD), Women Against the Regime (WAR), The Belgian 20 and The 2Percent. These protest groups united over the weekend to take the fight to Belgium, hence the #UnityProtest.
All the activity and events taking place in Sint-Truiden was being recorded on Twitter by fans at the protest and the several protest groups. We have taken to Twitter to collect all the pictures, videos, and tweets from the #UnityProtest.
Off to see Roland #UnityProtest ⚫️⚪️ #CAFC pic.twitter.com/a3gMOIOM2l
— Will Dalton (@WilliamNDalton) March 4, 2017
Footage of Charlton fans protesting in Belgium against Roland Duchatelet's ownership of #CAFC. #UnityProtest (🎥 @MGoedefroy) @CharltonCARD pic.twitter.com/fT7EefaCB5
— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) March 4, 2017
If you think this is just "one or two hotheads" Roland, you're more deluded than even we thought. Passion & devotion to #cafc #UnityProtest pic.twitter.com/mMOlJRSge7
— CARD (@CharltonCARD) March 4, 2017
As a kid you dream about supporting your club around Europe… but not like this. #CAFC #UnityProtest #RolandOut pic.twitter.com/iOKzQUpuX8
— Matias Grez (@matias_grez) March 4, 2017
More than 300 fans joined the #UnityProtest march in Sint-Truiden according to police estimates. Huge thanks to everyone who took part #cafc pic.twitter.com/1PagZNfoxr
— CARD (@CharltonCARD) March 4, 2017
A message to you ROLAND DUCHATELET! #cafc #unityprotest @CharltonCARD @CAFCWAR @The_2Percent_ pic.twitter.com/ibx6J9wyKx
— TheBelgium20 (@TheBelgium20) March 4, 2017
This is HUNDREDS of Charlton & #STVV fans protesting on the streets of Belgium against Roland Duchatelet's ownership of #cafc #UnityProtest pic.twitter.com/bOZQ5ziBO2
— CARD (@CharltonCARD) March 4, 2017
VIDEO: "Just sell the club…" #UnityProtest #cafc pic.twitter.com/nBP8kRxT3n
— CARD (@CharltonCARD) March 4, 2017
#cafc fans in Sint Truiden protesting against owner Roland Duchatelet #unityprotest pic.twitter.com/etZMfPIfjO
— Ross (@RossWZA) March 4, 2017
As the #UnityProtest March commences, "We want Roland Out" echoes from the away end in Northampton #cafc United home and abroad 👍 pic.twitter.com/1rcw8wxKMT
— CharltonLife.com (@CharltonLife) March 4, 2017
@CharltonCARD @TheBelgium20 @CAFCWAR @The_2Percent_ great chant from #stvv fans @TBastijns. One for #cafc fans #unityprotest pic.twitter.com/n0LAmco31T
— Suzy Stevens (@Suzyjoanstevens) March 5, 2017
STVV & Charlton fans united! Wanted: club with ambition! #STVV #Card #unityprotest #Charlton #jupilerproleague #Belgianfootball #sporza pic.twitter.com/KE7D8U38kO
— Tom Bastijns (@TBastijns) March 4, 2017
Loved our new banner. One for @CHATHMuseum when the campaign is won #UnityProtest @CharltonCARD pic.twitter.com/e0HDIsxy1J
— Alan (@AlanDavo55) March 4, 2017
#cafc fans! BREAKING NEWS! No ifs no buts celebrates in Sint Truiden! Proud to be part of B20 team! #unityprotest @CharltonCARD @CAFCWAR pic.twitter.com/OGyLCEtvEH
— TheBelgium20 (@TheBelgium20) March 4, 2017
The #UnityProtest takes to the pitch at #STVV. "We Want Roland Out!" sing the #cafc fans. pic.twitter.com/0Epi4gBFZq
— Joe Read (@JoeyRead97) March 4, 2017
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Phenomenal effort. Heroes all of you. We will get our club back #unityprotest 🔴⚪️⚫️ https://t.co/zrW8mlihyB
— Laurence Dudley (@LaurenceDudley) March 4, 2017
Standard Liege fans took to Twitter who also protested to remove the electronics mogul in the past, and succeeded.
Standard fans support #CARD #STVV #Charlton #rolandout #WeWantOurCharltonBack pic.twitter.com/HJCEssCE8x
— jean doudou (@awanspolyclinic) March 4, 2017
See the #unityprotest hashtag for coverage of #cafc supporters peacefully protesting in Belgium against Duchâtelet's regime. @SkyFootball pic.twitter.com/1Xbv8xibYm
— Charlton Athletic FC (@ParodyCharlton) March 4, 2017
Honestly believe, one day, March 4th, 2017 will be remembered as an important moment in the history of Charlton Athletic.
— Jimmy Stone (@JimmyStone_) March 4, 2017
Stunning effort by those who made the trip. Apart from everything else it dispels protests being about 'bitter ex employees' myth. #cafc
— Jimmy Stone (@JimmyStone_) March 4, 2017
And finally those organising the #UnityProtest deserve a huge well done. Ridiculous level of dedication when it would be easier to walk away
— Jimmy Stone (@JimmyStone_) March 4, 2017
The fight continues for Charlton Athletic to rid their destructive owner. It will be interesting to see how the ownership and senior management at Charlton react to the Unity Protest.
