Ex-Plopsa CEO Leaves Antwerp FC Board After Fan Protests

Steve Van den Kerkhof, the former CEO of Plopsa theme parks, has stepped down from the board of directors of Royal Antwerp FC following weeks of escalating protests from supporters. The departure marks a significant development for the Belgian top-tier club, which has been grappling with financial difficulties and internal turmoil.

Background and Resignation

Van den Kerkhof informed the board of his resignation on June 16, 2026, according to an official statement from the club. The board expressed regret but respected his decision, asking him to continue handling certain ongoing matters from a distance to ensure continuity.

According to VRT NWS, the club’s statement read: “RAFC regrets the personal and disrespectful attacks of recent weeks, mainly directed at one person. Those actions, by individuals, are absolutely not positive for the further development of the club.”

Van den Kerkhof had been appointed to the Antwerp FC board in 2025 by chairman Paul Gheysens, the real estate magnate who has owned the club since 2017. His arrival was intended to bring commercial discipline to a club facing significant financial headwinds.

Escalating Fan Protests

The protests against Van den Kerkhof began in earnest on June 1-2, 2026, when supporters from the group Antwerp Dynamite hung a banner reading “Plopsa buiten” (“Plopsa out”) at the Bosuilstadion using a cherry picker. VoetbalNieuws reported that the fans declared: “It is time for change. Time for a takeover. Time for Plopsa to leave.”

The protests intensified significantly by June 13, with graffiti appearing at the stadium reading “Welkom op het kerkhof van Steve” (“Welcome to Steve’s cemetery”) alongside other messages, as documented by Voetbalkrant. A sticker campaign accompanied the graffiti, amplifying the message that supporters wanted Van den Kerkhof out.

The Plopsa Scandal

Van den Kerkhof’s controversial past played a central role in the fan anger. He served as CEO of Plopsa for 23 years before being fired in March 2023 after an independent investigation revealed a “bullying and yelling culture” at the theme park company. A criminal investigation was later dropped in September 2024 due to lack of evidence.

Supporters viewed his appointment as emblematic of a disconnect between the club’s leadership and its identity. Critics accused him of lacking any connection to football and treating fans primarily as a revenue source.

Internal Turmoil

The situation was compounded by the recent resignation of popular COO Kris Onghena, who left the club partly due to difficult collaboration with Van den Kerkhof. La Libre Belgique reported that Onghena’s departure further fueled discontent among supporters who saw him as a key figure with genuine ties to the club’s identity.

Financial Context

Antwerp FC faces significant financial difficulties. Chairman Paul Gheysens’ real estate company Ghelamco has been struggling, leading to reduced investment in the club that won the Belgian league title in 2023. The days of expensive player signings have given way to austerity, and the club finished a mediocre season with little prospect of immediate improvement.

What’s Next for Antwerp

Van den Kerkhof’s departure may temporarily calm tensions, but the underlying issues at Royal Antwerp FC remain unresolved. The supporters’ federation has framed the resignation as “the way to the solution,” but questions persist about whether Gheysens will sell the club or find new investors.

VoetbalNieuws noted that uncertainty surrounds the club on multiple fronts: the future of sporting director Jean Kindermans, the status of Sven Jacques, the availability of funds for new transfers, and the appointment of a new coach.

For a club that celebrated its first league title in 66 years just three seasons ago, the rapid decline has been stark. The coming months will determine whether this episode becomes a turning point toward recovery or another chapter in a deepening crisis at one of Belgium’s most historic football institutions.