The dramatic sportive and financial situation of the team led to some serious incidents. In 2003 when fans gathered around the town hall to listen to the debate over a municipal loan for MVV, eventually leading to riots. Mayor Leers decided that the city of Maastricht should not support MVV financially anymore and bankruptcy was minutes away. Bricks and bottles were thrown at the town hall and groups of people tried to force their way in the building. Aldermen, council members and riot police were attacked, when they tried to leave the town hall. This also led to a massive pitch invasion at the last game of the season. During the years the fans also protested heavily against a merger with arch-rivals Roda JC Kerkrade and Fortuna Sittard. This led to another pitch invasion and death threats to club directors. Aside from the rivalries with Roda JC and Fortuna Sittard, MVV also share rivalries with Helmond Sport, VVV Venlo and NEC Nijmegen. Roda JC-MVV is considered the main rivalry in the Dutch Province of Limburg by both sets of supporters, despite a long period without the two sides playing in the beginning of the millennium, with the two sets of hardcore support regularly clashing and players making the switch between the two clubs receiving death threats. Roda JC are considered by Maastricht supporters as one having a Germanic and Limburgish identity, with German flags present in the Kerkrade-based club's stand and the Limburgish anthem being played at every home game. Maastricht on the other hand is known for its distinct Latin, Burgundian identity compared to the rest of the Province. Ownership and finances For a time MVV had a reputation as a well-paying team, where older players and former stars could end their career for a substantial compensation. In 1946 MVV even tried to lure the legendary striker Faas Wilkes to Maastricht. They offered two Bedford trucks to the Wilkes' family transport corporation for him and his brother Leen. They both accepted. But in a time where football was only played on amateur basis in the Netherlands, the KNVB discovered the transaction and threatened to ban Wilkes for a long time. So Faas Wilkes and his brother stayed with their team Xerxes in Rotterdam. A few years later he moved to Internazionale to become one of the first professional football players from the Netherlands. The KNVB banned him for nearly