Utrecht football fans again in firing line for racist chants

fc utrecht stadiumUtrecht football club director Wilco van Schaik says the club has ‘completely had it’ with a small group of supporters who persist in racist chanting.

This weekend the group, part of the club’s hardcore fan base, directed racist chants at Twente’s Ghanese player Thomas Agyepong

At one point in the game when Agyepong was injured, the group chanted ‘I have no bananas today’, news agency ANP said.

On the club’s website Van Shaik says the club is sending out a ‘clear and public message’ to those responsible.

‘We have had it with these people on the fringes who repeatedly try to wreck a decent afternoon’s football.’ As well as the chanting, club officials are also identifying those responsible for a banner with a tasteless message, the website said.

Utrecht fans came under fire earlier for anti-semetic chants during a match against Ajax. Ajax players and supporters are nicknamed ‘the Jews’. That incident has been punished by the Dutch football association.

Nevertheless, Utrecht’s mayor Jan van Zanen has decided to ban Ajax fans from the clubs’ next clash because of the risk of trouble.

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