[goldenHuddlestone]

Extra police will be drafted in to protect Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour when he visits his old club Racing Genk in the Belgian first division on Saturday. The 18-year-old left for Liege in acrimonious circumstances in the close-season and both the police and his former employers are expecting a backlash from home supporters.

"The extra police are there for his protection," Erik Gerets, Genk General Manager, told Reuters. Fans carrying any unpleasant banners directed at the Belgian international will have them confiscated and will be banned from attending any future games in Belgium for a year, according to the Genk official.

All of Lieges board of directors and officials have also been told not to attend for their own safety by the police. Following a spectacular first season, Defour, who was picked up by Genk as a schoolboy, attracted the interest of a number of clubs including Chelsea and Ajax. However, in April he declared his loyalty to Genk and signed a three-year contract with them.

A few weeks later, Ajax made another approach which Defour welcomed, but the club turned it down as the Dutch sides offer was not enough. The player then did a u-turn and sought a move, much to the anger of the Genk fans. "In the end we had to let him go as he couldnt play for us anymore with the fans calling him Judas," Gerets said. "Whats worse for the fans is that we were forced to sell him to Standard for a third of his value."

Defour was valued at 4 million euros ($5.13 million) and sold for 1.25 miilion. The increased security measures on Saturday will include a five-km security zone, police in riot gear, extra sniffer dogs and double the number of stewards within the stadium. Genk currently top the table with a 100 percent record after two games, while Liege are still awaiting their first point of the season.