The sports research institute sent a questionnaire to all 1044 (male) players in Dutch professional football. About 11 percent (118 players) completed the list.
The answers also show that four out of ten players indicate that racism and other forms of discrimination regularly occur in professional football. 14% have experienced it themselves. A quarter indicated that jokes or negative comments about skin color, origin or religion are sometimes made within their team.
’14 percent should become 0 percent’
Almost all players believe that action should be taken against this. That also applies if those comments come from the public. At the same time, they see negative reactions from supporters, public opinion and also social norms as the biggest obstacles to tackling racism. The professional football players assess the racism approach of the KNVB football association with a narrow pass.
In a response to the investigation, the KNVB emphasizes that twenty “new or tightened measures” have been introduced in the past eighteen months to combat discrimination. “The border is clear: discrimination and exclusion are not tolerated in any form. Not by us and as far as we are concerned by no one. So let’s collectively reduce that 14 percent to 0 percent as soon as possible,” the Football Association said, referring to the percentage of players who experienced racism.
In 2020, the KNVB presented a three-year “plan of attack” against racism and discrimination. The direct reason for this was the Den Bosch-Excelsior match in November 2019, in which Excelsior player Ahmad Mendes Moreira was treated racist. He ran off the field crying.
The Mulier Institute’s research was conducted in the context of the so-called National Sports Agreement, in which the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the NOC*NSF sports umbrella and municipalities work together. The results of the poll should help combat racism and discrimination in sport.
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