Netherlands adjusts training after racist abuse by fans

The Hague - Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk adjusted his training in Krakow after hearing racist abuse from the stands.

During the warm-up for the training in the Wisla Krakow stadium Wednesday, which was open to the public, some fans of Wisla Krakow made racist remarks towards the coloured players of the Dutch team. The staff immediately decided to move all forms of training equipment to the other side of the field, reports Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf Thursday.

Despite enthusiasm of the majority in the stadium the technical staff felt is was forced to intervene after fans made the remarks. A few hours earlier the Dutch team had visited the former World War II concentration camp Auschwitz.

“The advantage is that we now know what we can await. Very attractive,” Van Marwijk said cynically at the post-training press conference.

Earlier Wednesday UEFA president Michel Platini had condemned racism, which is a problem in Polish and Ukrainian stadiums. He confirmed referees had been instructed to halt matches at Euro 2012 if a player was racially taunted. But he also warned any player who otherwise left the field in protest over abuse from the stands would be yellow carded.