Rico Verhoeven and NOC*NSF Controversy over VVD Video

Nov 7, 2023 at 12:36 Update: 15 minutes ago

Sports association NOC*NSF regrets Rico Verhoeven’s dissatisfaction about his video with VVD party leader Dilan Yesilgöz. The kickboxer is disappointed that it now seems as if he is supporting the VVD in the run-up to the House of Representatives elections.

Yesilgöz was the first in a series of party leaders with whom NOC*NSF made a video to draw attention to government investments in sports. Verhoeven said in the talk show on Monday Beau that the video allows him to be seen as a VVD supporter.

“I now seem pro-VVD,” said Verhoeven. “That’s not funny. That was not the approach of this whole thing at all. The trend now is: Rico is pro-VVD. I am neither left nor right. I don’t want to get too involved in politics, because in the end you it’s never good anyway.”

NOC*NSF has now also published the videos of party leaders Frans Timmermans (GroenLinks-PvdA) and Rob Jetten (D66). The politicians talked to former footballer Nathan Rutjes and former athlete Dafne Schippers respectively. More videos are coming in the run-up to the November 22 election.

“We find this very annoying for Rico and those around him,” a spokesperson for NOC*NSF responded on Tuesday. “We are happy to help correct this misunderstanding.”

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Verhoeven enters the ring with VVD party leader Yesilgöz

NOC*NSF: ‘Verhoeven was initially happy with the video’

The sports association says that Verhoeven was initially happy with the video. “He has also shared it on his own channels, just like Timmermans, for example. We think that’s fine. The video of Verhoeven and Yesilgöz has now already been viewed a million times.”

The spokesperson says that two weeks ago there was some commotion on social media when the video was published. “Then everyone fell over us, as if we were only giving the VVD the platform. But we immediately added that more party leaders would follow.”

NOC*NSF emphasizes that the videos were made at their own expense. The athletes were not paid to participate.

Verhoeven successfully defended the heavyweight world title for the eleventh time on Saturday. He settled on points with challenger Tariq Osaro in the GelreDome stadium in Arnhem.

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Verhoeven wins again: ‘Maybe I have now achieved GOAT status’

Image: Video still

Read more about:

VVDKickboxingRico VerhoevenHouse of Representatives electionsVechtsportDilan Yesilgöz
2023-11-07 11:36:00
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