Dutch captain complains of racism

[davieG]

BBC

Netherlands captain Mark van Bommel says the team's black players were subjected to monkey chants at an open training session in Poland.

He described the alleged abuse in Krakow as a "real disgrace".

Uefa said an incident had occurred but it was a protest about the city not being given any Euro 2012 matches, The Times reported.

However, Van Bommel said: "Open your ears. If you did hear it, and don't want to hear it, that is even worse."

The claims come on the opening day of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

BBC sports news correspondent Dan Roan said 20,000 fans had turned up to watch the training session at the Stadion Miejski.

"The claims haven't been proven yet as there has been no confirmation from Uefa or the Dutch FA," he said.

"Some reporters said they did not hear the abuse but van Bommel said they needed to open their ears.

"This training session had occurred on Wednesday in the city of Krakow which is hosting three teams, including England.

"This is the last thing Uefa wants to hear and the news would have reached the England camp.

"They will train in front of several thousand fans on Friday and will be aware of what has happened."

Martin Lipton, from the Daily Mirror, is in Krakow and told BBC Radio 5 live there was a large number of Polish fans involved in the abuse.

He said: "As they were doing a lap on the pitch around 500 of the local fans started doing monkey chants at the black players.

"It became worse on the second lap, at which point Van Bommel took the players to the other side of the stadium. It's the only story in the Dutch press today."

The day before the alleged abuse, the Netherlands players had visited Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, which is nearby.

Van Bommel said: "It is 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 at a match we will talk to the referee and ask him to take us off the field."

BBC's Panorama programme last month raised the issue of potential racism at Euro 2012 after filming supporters in Ukraine giving Nazi salutes and taunting black players with monkey noises.

Earlier this week Uefa president Michel Platini told BBC Sport that the issue was one for wider society, not simply football. He said referees had the power to stop games if there was racist abuse from the stands.

The tournament kicks off at 17:00 BST on Friday with hosts Poland playing Greece in the opening match in Warsaw.

[NottsFox]

I just read it this morning. Shocking, this is only the start. Ridiculous from UEFA to choose these countries, its a disgrace. No wonder about 10 england fans are turning up...

[AKCJ]

UEFA are a joke.

[Nick]

The thing that will send this tournament west is denial:

"It wasn't monkey chants, they were just angry their hometown didn't get a tournament match........."

"They weren't Nazi Salutes, that was the crowds way of 'pointing' at the opposition.

If they do something about the behaviour, fair enough....... Denying its occurrence will lead to untold amounts of grief.

This one may get messy.

[AlphaMaleFox]

Richard Conway BBC ‏@richard_conway

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

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Richard Conway BBC ‏@richard_conway

Dutch say "some" players, inc Mark Van Bommel, heard racial abuse but was mixed with anti-Euro 2012 chants. Confirm head coach didn't hear.

[davieG]

I suspect they're waiting for a bust up between opposing fans over this so they can blame any trouble on them.

[Nick]

Richard Conway BBC ‏@richard_conway

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

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Richard Conway BBC ‏@richard_conway

Dutch say "some" players, inc Mark Van Bommel, heard racial abuse but was mixed with anti-Euro 2012 chants. Confirm head coach didn't hear.

Translated as "please don't make a fuss it will tarnish the tournament..........."

[Daggers]

I wonder how many people and how loud it has to be for the ref to pull the players off.

I also wonder if the players would be happy to be pulled off in front of cameras and their fans.

To be honest, I don't think anyone wants to see this while they are having their tea.

[sphericalfox]

I wonder how many people and how loud it has to be for the ref to pull the players off.

I also wonder if the players would be happy to be pulled off in front of cameras and their fans.

To be honest, I don't think anyone wants to see this while they are having their tea.

The referees will have Pop-eye arms by the end of the end of it all. Ack-ack-ack.

[Guest Bilo]

The thing that will send this tournament west is denial:

"It wasn't monkey chants, they were just angry their hometown didn't get a tournament match........."

"They weren't Nazi Salutes, that was the crowds way of 'pointing' at the opposition.

If they do something about the behaviour, fair enough....... Denying its occurrence will lead to untold amounts of grief.

This one may get messy.

I thought that when I was watching the Panorama episode last week.

The Ukrainian representative's denials were so pitiful they'd have been called comedy classics if they'd appeared on Monty Python.

The trouble is though, that they seem so desperate to call the tournament a success on a superficial level that they're completely unprepared to deal with the blindingly obvious problems that run deep not only in Ukrainian and Polish society but across the countries we once called the Eastern Bloc.

I fully understand the desire of the generations since the fall of the Iron Curtain to distance themselves from communism, but the neo-Nazism that has spread like a cancer must be tackled. There are very, very deep societal problems there and UEFA were extremely misguided to grant those two countries the chance to host a tournament that sees 16 nations with fans and players from countless cultural backgrounds.

If Ukraine and Poland go out early and the feel-good factor dries up, this WILL turn ugly.

[davieG]

BBC

The Netherlands will make no official complaint over the alleged racist abuse of players during an open training session in Poland.

Captain Mark van Bommel said the team's black players were subjected to monkey chants in Krakow.

The Dutch FA said while some players said they heard racist abuse, the chanting was mixed with Polish fans making political statements.

The matter is now considered closed, the Dutch FA told BBC Sport.

Questions

Are 'those some players' deemed to be lying or have bad hearing?

How many chants have to be made/heard before it warrants an Official Complaint?

[Daggers]

If Ukraine and Poland go out early...

Colour me cynical, but there was more chance of Holland winning in '78.

Questions

Are 'those some players' deemed to be lying or have bad hearing?

How many chants have to be made/heard before it warrants an Official Complaint?

Post 8.

[davieG]

Colour me cynical, but there was more chance of Holland winning in '78.

Post 8.

I'd forgotten I'd read that, still it was an hour ago.

(every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain - HS)

[Guest Bilo]

Colour me cynical, but there was more chance of Holland winning in '78.

Agree it's a big if for both to go out at the group stage, but neither are any great shakes. I think one will go out at the group stage and one in the quarters.

Mind you, if Spain and/or Russia are still there the locals will feel right at home with all the like-minded supporters.

[Bellend Sebastian]

The referees will have Pop-eye arms by the end of the end of it all. Ack-ack-ack.

It's the lack of acknowledgement of top class gags like this that make me fear for the direction that FT is headed in

[sphericalfox]

It's the lack of acknowledgement of top class gags like this that make me fear for the direction that FT is headed in

The worst ones usually are the best ones. I aim low to hit high. My only regret was not putting a picture of Popeye to reinforce my gag, so as the young'uns might know what I was referring to. There'll be other opportunities to show my wit...I just have to be patient.

[Guest MattP]

Just watched it, definately a lot of booing though you couldn't be 100% certain it was racial to be honest as numerous white players were being jeered as well, could tell there was some sort of massive protest going on from the Wisla fans though, seriously not happy at all about something.

Important to clamp down on racism but also be careful not to automatically assume everything is, a black player being booed in this tournament could end up with teams walking off.

[Nick]

FIFA Confirm isolated racist chanting at Dutch players:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18363736

[Guest MattP]

FIFA Confirm isolated racist chanting at Dutch players:

http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/18363736

Then it's absolutely ridiculous no further action is being taken.

On a positive note England's training session goes off without any problems. (well positive unless you work in the English media)

[AlphaMaleFox]

I just read it this morning. Shocking, this is only the start. Ridiculous from UEFA to choose these countries, its a disgrace. No wonder about 10 england fans are turning up...

Ingerlund.

Small town in Baghdad.

You used to be English.

Last season.

King Power Stadium.

Stones.

Glass houses.

[Corky]

I'm surprised they aren't going to complain, if this is happening in training sessions what will it be like in the pressure and tension of a match?

[Guest MattP]

I'm surprised they aren't going to complain, if this is happening in training sessions what will it be like in the pressure and tension of a match?

One of my best mates is a Pole and he seems to think you won't get it at the games as the sort of fans that indulge in this can't afford match tickets to the actual games hence why you might at have got some at the "free entry" training sessions.

[Guest Bilo]

Ingerlund.

Small town in Baghdad.

You used to be English.

Last season.

King Power Stadium.

Stones.

Glass houses.

A valid point, particularly considering that all of those chants were sung at us in one of the FA's choice of host cities in one match, but racism in English stadia pales into comparison to that seen in Ukraine and Poland.

I've never been to a game in England where there have been Nazi salutes coming from the home end, swastikas fluttering from the guard rails or Asian students attacked by their fellow supporters in the home end. And I've been to Millwall.

Racism is very much alive in England sadly, but at least our authorities are doing something about it and most fans are strongly opposed to it. Try monkey chanting at a player at the King Power next season and see what happens.

[Nick]

A valid point, particularly considering that all of those chants were sung at us in one of the FA's choice of host cities in one match, but racism in English stadia pales into comparison to that seen in Ukraine and Poland.

I've never been to a game in England where there have been Nazi salutes coming from the home end, swastikas fluttering from the guard rails or Asian students attacked by their fellow supporters in the home end. And I've been to Millwall.

Racism is very much alive in England sadly, but at least our authorities are doing something about it and most fans are strongly opposed to it. Try monkey chanting at a player at the King Power next season and see what happens.

[Mack]

Dont panic!

Platini and friends got their back handers.

It will be the same, or worse, for the World Cup in Russia.