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Ruud Gullit hopes that racism incident was a one-off
Jun 9, 2012 9:10:00 AM
The former Oranje captain prays that the problems on Wednesday do not surface again, and that no matches will be disrupted due to misbehaviour from supporters
EXCLUSIVEBy Miles Evans in Warsaw
Former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit hopes that the reported racist abuse endured by some members of the Dutch team in training ahead of Euro 2012 was a one-off, and that football will prevail in Poland and Ukraine.
Mark van Bommel revealed on Wednesday that he could hear racist chanting emanating from the stands at Stadion Miejski in Krakow where Bert van Marwijk's men were training ahead of Saturday's Group B opener against Denmark.
Gullit, who captained the Oranje to European triumph at Euro 1988, believes that the two host nations can rise above the racism controversies and return to footballing matters.
"This is showtime, for the two host nations to show themselves at their best. There was a prediction that [racism] could happen," the 49-year-old told reporters in Warsaw.
"In newspapers in England, there was already a warning for black people not to go to Poland - that is sad in itself, you know, to have to even say that.
"I think Poland deserves better than this. I think it's going to be very tough for Uefa to make a decision not to play, because it messes up the whole tournament.
"I hope it will not be necessary, I hope that football wins, and that everybody will enjoy the reason that we are here."
The Oranje open their Euro 2012 campaign against Morten Olsen's Danes at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv at 18:00CET
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