sports
Dutch Football Association Sends Racist Messages After World Cup Penalty Loss to Prosecutors
The KNVB referred racist social media messages targeting three players to prosecutors after a penalty shootout loss to Morocco. Prime Minister Rob Jetten called the abuse unacceptable and urged legal action to set an example.
sbs.com.auAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
The Dutch Football Association transferred racist and discriminatory social media messages to the public prosecutor’s office on Friday for possible criminal charges. The messages targeted Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville after they missed penalties in a 1-1 draw against Morocco that ended in a shootout defeat on Monday in Monterrey, Mexico.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten said the abuse crossed clear lines.
“One moment they are ‘our boys’, and we don’t see their colour when they are wearing an orange shirt. Then when someone misses a penalty, vitriol pours out from every corner,” Jetten told reporters. He added that he expected prosecutors to pursue cases to deter similar conduct.
The KNVB stated it could not catch every instance but wanted to establish firm boundaries. “There are limits, and there are consequences for those who violate those limits,” the association said in its statement. Four days earlier, the German Football Association announced that coach Julian Nagelsmann had agreed to step down after Germany lost 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay in the round of 32.
Nagelsmann had been under contract through the 2028 European Championship. The association said it would now approach Jurgen Klopp, who has indicated he is open to the role.
