(Reuters) - Standard Liege were unable to fulfil their Belgian league fixture with Westerlo on Friday after their own supporters prevented the team bus from reaching the stadium amid a protest over the way the club is being run.
Ten-time Belgium champions Liege are owned by 777 Partners, who are seeking to buy Premier League side Everton.
Liege fans have been growing in frustration this season, having endured a transfer ban and with the team struggling on the pitch.
"Our team has been blocked at our training centre by certain supporters who decided to prevent them from reaching the stadium, (therefore) our club was unable to take part in the meeting scheduled for this Friday evening against KVC Westerlo," Liege said in a statement.
"Attempts at discussions with these supporters did not make it possible to find a solution to lift the blockage. Standard Liège deeply regrets this situation and apologises to KVC Westerlo as well as to the supporters of both camps present at the stadium this evening."
Belgian newspaper HLN reported this week that the Liege players had yet to receive their salaries for April.
The attempt to buy Everton by 777 Partners has stalled with the latter struggling to raise the capital needed and facing a fraud lawsuit in New York brought by one of its lenders.
(Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
