MARCO VAN BASTEN was forced to apologise after saying “sieg heil” live on TV – on the weekend that the Eredivisie was making a stand against racism.
The phrase was a greeting often used in Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler’s leadership and is therefore strongly condemned.
Legendary footballer Marco van Basten was embroiled in a race storm after saying “sieg heil” live on TV, thinking his microphone was turned offCredit: © KEYSTONE / WALTER BIERI
But Van Basten, 55, used it as “an ill-timed joke” following an interview on Fox with presenter Hans Kraay and Heracles manager Frank Wormuth.
Kraay struggled a little with his grasp of the German language throughout the conversation – and Van Basten wanted to have a dig at his colleague.
That is when, thinking his microphone was turned off, the former Ajax and AC Milan striker said: “Not too pretty, sieg heil, pfannkuchen [pancake].”
Van Basten won six league titles, two European Cups, the 1988 Euros and three Ballons d’Or in an impressive playing career before turning his hand at management in his homeland.
But this was certainly not one of his finer moments and he quickly apologised after realising his misjudged error while Fox Sports said the comment was inappropriate “not just today, but every day”.
I didn’t mean to shock people, I just wanted to ridicule Hans’ German, but I’m sorry.
Marco van Basten
The 58-cap Netherlands international added: “I didn’t mean to shock people, I just wanted to ridicule Hans’ German, but I’m sorry.”
To make matters worse, the incident came on the weekend which saw Dutch clubs from the top two tiers refuse to play for the first minute of their matches, instead standing still for 60 seconds after kick-off to take a stand against racism.
Excelsior’s Ahmad Mendes Moreira was targeted with racist chants by Den Bosch supporters and left the pitch before returning to score and cup his ear at his abusers.
The Eredivisie said of this weekend’s protest: “It is intended to make fans aware that football belongs to everyone, regardless of cultural background, religion or sexual preference.”
Clubs also displayed the slogan ‘Racism? Then we don’t play football!’ on screens around the stadium.
A Dutch FA statement read: “These initiatives also strengthen us in the discussions we have with politicians and our social partners.
“Because only together can we tackle this social problem properly.
“Racism is disgusting and does not belong in football. Racism must go out of the world.”
Players in the top two tiers in the Netherlands stood still for the first minute of matches to protest against racismCredit: EPA
Distraught player storms off pitch as match is stopped for 10 minutes after racist abuse from fans
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
