Netherlands players targets of racist taunts, threaten to walk off Euro 2012 pitch

[PMLF]

Netherlands players targets of racist taunts, threaten to walk off Euro 2012 pitch

Captain says black players were targeted at training, only hours after visiting Auschwitz camp

By Jason Burt, The Daily Telegraph

KRAKOW, Poland — The Polish city in which England is based for the finals of Euro 2012 was at the centre of a growing race row today with the Holland captain, Mark van Bommel, warning UEFA that he will lead his team off the pitch if they are abused during matches after an alleged incident occurred at a training session.

Black players in the Dutch squad were subjected to "monkey chants" from supporters of Wisla Krakow during open training at the Polish club's stadium on Wednesday, according to the midfielder. Van Bommel said he led the players to the other end of the pitch after the chanting from around 500 fans as the squad ran past during two warm-up laps. The incident occurred just hours after the Dutch squad had visited the Second World War concentration camp at Auschwitz, which is close to Krakow.

UEFA and the Dutch football association played down the row but today Van Bommel warned: "It's a real disgrace, especially after getting back from Auschwitz, that you are confronted with this. We will take it up with UEFA and if it happens during matches we will talk to the referee and ask to leave the field."

When questioned by Dutch journalists, some of whom claimed not to have heard the abuse, Van Bommel added: "You need to open your ears. If you heard it and did not want to hear it then that is even worse."

The training session was raucous with claims that the fans were protesting because Krakow had been overlooked as a host city for the tournament. The row comes ahead of England holding its first open training session at the city, which also hosts Italy, and with 3,500 locals being invited for the ticket-only event. Racism has been a problem in the city in the past with the fans of both Wisla Krakow and another local club, Cracovia, having faced allegations of abuse.

UEFA, which has a zero-tolerance policy on racism at soccer grounds, said it had spoken to the Dutch and claimed it had been told there had been no racist incident. This is contradicted by Van Bommel's recollection of what happened. However, UEFA has been criticized for its lenient response to previous incidents.

The fear of racism occurring during the finals has become a huge concern for UEFA given the history of abuse in Poland and the other host nation, Ukraine, in particular with UEFA president Michel Platini confirming earlier this week that referees had been instructed to halt matches if a player is abused. But he also warned that players would be cautioned if they left the pitch in protest.

At the same time several of England's black players have confirmed that they have told their families not to travel to the team's matches in Ukraine because of the fear of being racially abused. The Football Association made representations to UEFA before the tournament over the prospect of players being abused and the UK's senior policeman in charge of soccer matters, Assistant Chief Constable Andy Holt, has also warned of the possibility.

Holland, like England, plays its three group matches in Ukraine but has chosen to base itself in Poland, as have most of the nations taking part in the finals.

The French are one of the exceptions, preparing in Donetsk, Ukraine, for their opening game against Roy Hodgson's side on Monday.

France’s manager, Laurent Blanc, added to England’s problems today by reigniting the controversy surrounding Rio Ferdinand's absence from Euro 2012. He openly rejected Roy Hodgson's claim that the decision was based on soccer considerations.

Blanc backed his former central defensive partner at Manchester United. "I know Rio Ferdinand well and it's true that it looks from my point of view that the choice not to pick him is not a footballing choice," said Blanc.

"There are clearly other things.

I think that Rio Ferdinand is a very good player even if he is closer to the end of his career. It was very surprising for me to see that he was not picked despite all the injuries they have at the back."

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Not good for the reputation of Poland and Ukraine even if that turns out to be an isolated incident.

[Daaaaave]

lulz weren't you the one saying in the panorama thread that all of this stuff was either made up or overblown and they'd be saying the same lies about brazil as well?

[William Hall]

That's him, if you read the Brazilian football thread he's far-right, even by American standards.

[PMLF]

lulz weren't you the one saying in the panorama thread that all of this stuff was either made up or overblown and they'd be saying the same lies about brazil as well?

And I still think the same thing (that they are exaggerating).

Anything that happens there will get out of proportion after that Panorama show.

That's him, if you read the Brazilian football thread he's far-right, even by American standards.

Don't exaggerate about that.

Not leftist isn't the same as far right. I support stuff like immigration, same-sex marriage and abortion that far-right usually don't support.

Probably under that kind of definition, even many Brazilian leftists would be right wing.

In any case, I don't expect this kind of situation to happen all the time.

[drogba]

The training session was raucous with claims that the fans were protesting because Krakow had been overlooked as a host city for the tournament.

Well they showed them what they are missing out on

And this occurrence aside, if people do not think the issue is being sensationalised then they need to re-assess their opinions on the media, British media particularly.

[William Hall]

Not leftist isn't the same as far right. I support stuff like immigration, same-sex marriage and abortion that far-right usually don't support.

Torture, nationalism.

[PMLF]

Torture, nationalism.

You are taking things out of context. Torture is bad, yes it is, can it be used to prevent something even worse? Yes, it can. Sometimes you need a lesser evil to prevent a bigger one.

And I fail to see the issue with nationalism/patriotism. Unfortunately those concepts have a bad reputation because people mix them with xenophobia (which is bad).

And regardless, it's not like right-wing = bad, then left-wing = good.

And this kind of discussion is completely off-topic too since it has nothing to do with the thread's subject (the incident in Netherlands' training session).

[PMLF]

Leaving aside silly ideological discussions and labels, this is what the Dutch coach said:

EURO 2012: DUTCH RACISM CLAIMS

Holland coach: 'At least now we know what we can encounter over here'

Last updated Fri 8 Jun 2012

Sport Euros Poland

The Netherlands captain has alleged that black players on the Dutch team were subjected to monkey chants as they trained in the Polish city of Krakow on Thursday.

According to the Times (£), Holland's coach Bert van Marwijk, also intimated that the abuse had been racist.

He is quoted as saying: “At least now we know what we can encounter over here."

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-06-08/holland-coach-at-least-now-we-know-what-we-can-encounter-over-here/

Nothing from Krakow's point of view yet though.

The Polish press seem to be just quoting the Dutch press without investigating what exactly happened.

---

From BBC's Richard Conway:

Breaking: Netherlands team will not be making official complaint to UEFA over alleged racial abuse of players in Krakow during training.

[Razzler]

Have officials come up with one of their explanations for how this wasn't racism yet?

[Rob1981]

Oh yes. Been described elsewhere as "anti-Euro 2012 chanting", a protest because Krakow hasn't been awarded any games.

[DJ]

The Dutch players did not 'threaten to leave the field' because they know full well that that would yield a yellow card. They (ie van Bommel) said they'd ask the ref to interrupt the match, as is regulated by the rules.

[Rob1981]

Don't believe any referee will actually have the balls to do it though, however bad abuse may or may not be.

[BoroPhil]

Oh yes. Been described elsewhere as "anti-Euro 2012 chanting", a protest because Krakow hasn't been awarded any games.

or alternatively, Wisla fans not wanting anyone to train at their ground/facilities. yet another joke response from UEFA

[daylight]

Uefa has confirmed there were "isolated incidents of racist chanting" aimed at Netherlands players during an open training session.

"Should such behaviour happen at further training sessions, Uefa would evaluate the operational measures to be taken to protect players," Uefa said.

From the BBC website.