NEC supporters were preparing to travel to Dinamo Zagreb for a match on Thursday. The fixture was described as the clubs’ first meeting since their 2008 UEFA Cup tie, which remained memorable for many NEC fans.

NEC had warned its supporters about Dinamo’s fan group, the Bad Blue Boys. After friendlier away trips to Athens, Bodø and Turin, the Zagreb trip was presented as a different experience because of the group’s notorious reputation.