Nearly 400 supporters marched near Edmond Machtens Stadium in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels, on Sunday afternoon to protest against the RWDM football club’s change of name and logo.
The demonstrators are urging the management and American owner John Textor to reverse the unilateral decision that saw Racing White Daring Molenbeek (RWDM) renamed “Daring Brussels” on 6 June.
Since the unexpected announcement, supporters have expressed strong opposition. In an open letter, they demanded the return of the club’s original name and historical logo, along with a structural role for supporters in all decisions affecting the club’s identity.
Almost 3,000 people, including notable figures such as Franky Vander Elst, Johan Boskamp, Hugo Broos, and Anthony Sadin, have signed an online petition.
During the protest, organisers criticised John Textor for being “completely disconnected” from the club. They emphasised that “RWDM is a popular institution, not a private toy or a rebranded American product.”
Kevin Meyvaert, a club supporter for 35 years, expressed his frustration, saying, “It makes you really angry that one isolated person owning the club has more influence than people who’ve been here for decades. Five years ago, Textor probably hadn’t even heard of RWDM.”
Supporters described the aesthetic overhaul as a “brutal” move made without consultation, which threatens the identity of a club “deeply rooted in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean.”
They insist that RWDM is not just a name but a social and sporting institution that serves as an identity marker for thousands of supporters, youth, families, and residents of Molenbeek.
