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Gullit - Football must triumph over racism

1,345 views · Published 8 June 2012 · 1:24 · Indexed 1 October 2026

Channel: GOAL · 2012 · Sports

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Former Netherlands player Ruud Gullit hopes the racist chanting the Dutch national team were subjected to during a training session on Thursday will prove to be a one-off.

Gullit, who captained the Dutch to victory at Euro 1988 was in Warsaw to promote the launch of FARE, a body which aims to highlight and eradicate racism in football.

SOUNDBITE (English)
RUUD GULLIT
Netherlands (1981-1994)

"This is showtime for the two hosts to show themselves at their best. There was already a prediction that it could happen. In newspapers in England there was already a warning for black people not to go to Poland, that is sad in itself that you have to say that. I hope it was [just] an incident, I think that Poland deserves better than this, I hope it was an incident.

"I think it is going to be very tough for UEFA to make a decision not to play, because it messes up the whole tournament. I hope that it won't be necessary, I hope that football wins, and that everybody can enjoy the reason why we are here."

The Netherlands get their campaign underway on Saturday against neighbours Denmark in the opening game in Group B.

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