Standard Liege Fans Could Get 5-Year Stadium Ban for Steven Defour Banner

Steven Defour spent four years as Standard Liege's captain before leaving in 2011 for Porto. Now back in the Belgian Pro League with Anderlecht, he returned to Stade Maurice Dufrasne to take on his former club for the first time on Sunday. 

The reception he received was...not welcoming. 

Yes, that's his decapitated head displayed on a massive "Red or Dead" tifo. It's a far cry from just four seasons ago, when he captained the team to a Belgian Cup victory. 

Defour proceeded to mark the occasion by getting himself sent off. The decision came after he angrily kicked the ball out of play, earning himself an unusual second yellow card. 

Yves Logghe/Associated Press

Update January 26

According to the Guardian, the outrage over the banner in Belgium is so great that the fans involved could face serious sanctions, with the government now involved. 

As per the paper: 

"

The display caused much uproar and the interior ministry said that it is considering sanctions that can go as high as a five-year stadium ban and a fine of €5,000 (£3742) for each individual supporter involved. “We’re working together with police to catch as many of the authors of this banner as possible,” a spokeswoman for the interior ministry said on Monday.

"

[H/t Reddit]