Brugge lets goalkeeper go after slander campaign

BRUSSELS (AP) â€" FC Brugge parted ways with former international goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen after his entourage acknowledged making comments on a fan website lauding his performance while criticizing his teammates and the club.

Stijnen had already been sent down to the "B'' team last week for "damaging the interests and image" of the club, but on Monday both sides decided to "end their cooperation with immediate effect."

After the story of the internet slander campaign surfaced and put the goalkeeper at the heart of the accusations over the weekend, his brother and girlfriend claimed they, not Stijnen, had written the comments.

Stijnen made 30 international appearances for Belgium from 2006-09 before falling out with then-coach Dick Advocaat, who refused to play him as the established No. 1 goalkeeper.

He quit the national team and concentrated on FC Brugge, a club with a rich history which has increasingly fallen on hard times. On top of that, Stijnen was going through a long injury spell.

The 29-year-old Stijnen was under contract with FC Brugge until 2015. The financial terms of the breakup were not disclosed.

In comments linked to his entourage on the fan web site blauwzwartforum.be, the goalkeeper was described as a "hero'" or "wonderful" and "top," while fellow Brugge goalkeepers and management were denigrated.

"Very weak game of (Geert) De Vlieger," one comment said of Stijnen's replacement. "Very average goalkeeper who has committed serious blunders in the past weeks."

Of two new business managers recently brought in, comments derided their "total lack of personality" and complained "lightweights like that have to lead our club."

Stijnen's family said in a statement to VRT network that his brother Steven and girlfriend Veerle "take all responsibility and offer Stijn their apologies, who, unfairly, gets all the blame."

The two say their were driven to post the comments under pseudonyms "Frigo and Piop" because "the criticism on Stijnen for some time had been too virulent and, as brother and girlfriend, too emotional."

Stijnen is free to join a new club immediately. He may go overseas in an attempt to avoid the controversy at home.