DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

28 May 2023
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

The time for politics is over, says Dutch coach in Qatar

November 24, 2022
Denzel Dumfries and Louis van Gaal head for the press conference. Photo: Koen van Weel ANP
Denzel Dumfries and Louis van Gaal head for the press conference. Photo: Koen van Weel ANP

The Dutch national football team will not be making any political statements ahead of the Friday’s World Cup match against Ecuador, coach Louis van Gaal told a pre-game press conference on Thursday.

Fifa has banned team captains from wearing a ‘One Love’ armband and other teams, including England and Germany, have made political statements on the pitch ahead of their ties.

The Dutch football association has also been criticised by LGBTI groups for its weak reaction to the ban, particularly the decision not to make a formal protest with Fifa.

But Van Gaal told reporters not to expect any gestures from his squad. ‘That would not be logical,’ he said from the press room in Qatar.

‘We have drawn a line under all the political questions after inviting migrant workers to our training last week,’ he said. ‘And we do not want our aim to be world champion to be ruined by Fifa campaigns or those of anyone else.’

The German squad lost 2-1 to Japan after posing on the pitch with their hands in front of their mouths, to reflect being silenced. The England team took the knee before their first match.

Van Gaal said his squad is ‘on average of a higher quality than in 2014’, when Oranje was third in the tournament.

Oranje meet Ecuador at 5pm Dutch time.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Sport
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Some 1,600 climate activists picked up at A12 demo in The Hague
Smoke signals: will public cannabis ban deter nuisance tourism?
360 more teenagers disappear from Dutch refugee centres
A warm, sunny holiday weekend ahead and more to come
Eindhoven film halts The Kerala Story showings after threats
NewsHomeEconomySportEuropeSocietyPoliticsHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DN
Podcast
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2023 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now