Euro 2012: Uefa confirms 'isolated racist chanting' towards Dutch

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

But the governing body has not revealed whether it is investigating the incident in Krakow, Poland.

Dutch captain Mark van Bommel said monkey chants were aimed at team-mates.
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Report: Racism row in Poland

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

"Uefa has now been made aware that there were some isolated incidents of racist chanting that occurred at the open training session of the Dutch team yesterday in Krakow.

"Uefa has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to discriminatory behaviour and has given the power to referees to stop matches in case of any repeated racist behaviour."

The governing body said no formal complaint had been received from the Dutch FA - and Netherlands officials have already said none will be made. The matter is now considered closed, the Dutch FA told BBC Sport.

While Van Bommel complained specifically of racist abuse, the Dutch FA said this was mixed with anti-Euro 2012 chanting believed to have been prompted by the fact the city has not been given any matches in the tournament.

Netherlands head coach Bert van Marwijk did not hear any racist abuse, his FA added.
Analysis
Dan Roan
BBC sports news correspondent

This training session 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. The issue of racism has stalked the preparations for this competition and once again it has reared its head.

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

Around 20,000 fans had turned up to watch the training session at the Stadion Miejski on Wednesday.

Journalist Marcel van der Kraan, who writes for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, said he heard the racist abuse.

He told BBC Radio 5 live: "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 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."
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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."

The 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 the issue was one for wider society, not simply football. But he added that 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.