Hungarian FA suspends Dutch coach after his protest about racism

The Hungarian football association has suspended Dutch coach Ricardo Moniz after he was given a red card for trying to take his team off the pitch when monkey noises were directed at some of his players.

Moniz, who coaches Zalaegerszegi TE, reacted furiously to the second incident in four days and the refusal by match officials to take action.

The incident happened on Sunday during the game between Zalaegerszegi TE and Honvéd.

The club’s director Attila Dragóner said both players and the club supported Moniz’ action. ‘We will continue to maintain there is no place for racism on the football pitch,’ he is quoted by Dutch media as saying.

Moniz said he would protest about the punishment. ‘I won’t accept it and I will take it to Uefa. I have had enough,’ he said.

Moniz was coach at Dutch club Excelsior in 2019 when striker Ahmad Mendes Moreira was targeted by racist taunting by Den Bosch fans. That incident was the first time a professional match in the Netherlands was stopped because of racism.