Rafael van der Vaart accused of making racist 'joke' about Japan players during World Cup coverage
Rafael van der Vaart has come under fire for his comments in the wake of the Netherlands' draw with Japan at the World Cup.
The Oranje kicked off their tournament with a pulsating 2-2 draw with the Asian country on Sunday night but it wasn't just the exciting second-half that had people talking.
There has already been several moments of controversy in the first week of the World Cup, including a referee who was accused of making a 'white power' gesture on live TV, with FIFA later finding that there was no wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the elephant in the room has been the astonishing price of tickets, food and drink particularly in the US, which has seen a lot of empty seats at games so far.
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We've also had some slip-ups from the commentators, with one US legend calling James Corden a 'full kit w***er' during a live broadcast, and now, van der Vaart has been accused of making a potentially racist joke during his commentary of his country's opening fixture.
During his appearance on the Dutch TV channel NOS, the 43-year-old was talking through Daichi Kamada's late equaliser when he said: “The perfect corner is really very difficult to defend.
“This one came with the right speed, just over the five-yard line. With a bit of luck it would have gone in, but the corner was amazing.
“They [the Japanese players] do look alike, of course, maybe he [Van de Ven] thought that… That’s a joke, of course. I hardly dare say anything.”
After his comments appeared online, fans were quick to criticise the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and suggest that some action should be taken against him.
One wrote: "Yeah, discrimination against Asians just won't go away, huh."
Another added: "Oh man. It was such a good match, but now it leaves a really bad aftertaste all at once. Of course, I know that most Dutch people aren't like this racist, but it's just too disappointing."
Van der Vaart wasn't finished there, however, as he also took aim at captain Virgil Van Dijk for his performance, despite the Liverpool centre-back opening the scoring in typical fashion with a powerful header.
He said: “I have to be honest: I was quite shocked by Van Dijk,’ he said at the half-time break. "With him, I thought: that doesn’t look good. Especially while turning.
“It is proving very difficult. A bit like a Boeing 747 turning. I hope he starts turning a bit faster during the tournament.”
Van der Vaart has since apologised for his 'joke', saying in a statement provided to LADbible: "It was never my intention to offend, hurt, or discriminate against anyone. I oppose racism in all its forms and have respect for people of every background, ethnicity, and culture.
"I understand that some people may have found my words offensive or hurtful. I sincerely regret that. If my comment has caused pain or upset, I would like to offer my heartfelt apologies. That was never my intention.
"I take the reactions that have followed seriously and understand that words can be interpreted in different ways. That is why I feel it is important to make clear that there was absolutely no racist or discriminatory intent behind my remark.
"I hope this statement provides greater clarity regarding my intentions and the context in which the comment was made."
James Moorhouse