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. Uefa also said it had no plans to investige the allegations. Around 20,000 fans had turned up to watch the training session at the Stadion Miejski on Wednesday. Uefa said an incident had occurred but it was a protest about the city not being given any Euro 2012 matches, The Times reported. The Dutch FA confirmed there was chanting against Euro 2012. Head coach Bert van Marwijk did not hear any racist abuse, the FA added. When it was put to Van Bommel on Thursday that the chanting was a protest against Euro 2012 organisers, he 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. De Telegraaf journalist Marcel Van Der Kraan said he heard the racist abuse. He told BBC Radio 5 live: "The Dutch had an open training session which they always do at one of the big stadiums to make the public feel welcome. "As the Dutch players did their warm up, during the first lap of the pitch they could hear monkey noises from one end of the crowd. "When the players heard this they said they would do another lap and if they heard monkey noises again they would stop. "The Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk moved all the cones and started training on the pitch as far away from these people as possible. "It was considerably more than two or three people. The Dutch media could hear it as well." Van Der Kraan added the whole Dutch team were behind van Bommel's stance. He added: "[Winger] Ibrahim Afellay said if the whole team decides to do something, they will all do it together. He said, 'If someone turns right, we all turn right'." 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. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18363736
This is absolutely appalling Not only are the Dutch FA giving the muppets at FIFA a get out clause to do nothing, but what sort of message of support are they sending to their own players?
A sad sad day Jerry. I think the saddest part is that we all know deep down it'll only get worse over the next few weeks. It's times like this that I wonder why I've spent my entire life loving the beautiful game only for these low life’s to ruin it.
Maybe this is what is needed, blatant racism on our TV's for all to see, racism at its worst. Maybe when its there for all to see, just maybe then the powers that be may have to accept that its there and unacceptable. Maybe, just maybe, it could be the point when pretending and shoving it under the carpet wont work and maybe it will force the powers that be to do something. The kick it out campaign like the respect campaign is a well intended cause and may well have made a slight difference but we all know its still there. Maybe this could be that straw that broke the camels back, just maybe.
I might be in the minority here, but I feel that walking off the pitch and cancelling games because of this minority of racist morons is letting them win..
Bart they won't cancel it to much money involved what should happen but won't is if there are any racist chants both teams should walk off and refuse to play.
Teams will break of from FIFA, telling you Sick of blatter and his choosing of where the tournaments will be held as i think players and individual FAs will be after these euros, can honestly see them being the worst yet
And so it starts. I'll guarantee not one match will see the teams taken off by the ref. How could it. The tournament is buggered the moment they do. The players should all just walk and every other nations players do likewise. Platini should be horse whipped and made to resign, for taking this tournament to such backward countries and actively supporting racism. UEFA and FIFA. Has there ever been two more twatful organisations in the history of any sport?
