Dutch football fans back Belgium, Germany and Morocco for the World Cup


Most Dutch football fans will be supporting Belgium at the World Cup in Russia which kicks off today, according to a poll of 18,000 people for broadcaster NOS and regional tv companies. The Netherlands failed to qualify for the championships after a disastrous campaign. Some 30% of people who took part in the poll back Belgium, 18% Germany and 4% Morocco – which has several dual Dutch national players in its ranks. A further 16.5% said they would not be supporting anyone. England and Iceland complete the line up of the five most popular teams. However, there are wide regional differences. In the south of the country, support for Belgium soars to between 70% and 80% among fans of local clubs Willem II, NAC Breda, PSV Eindhoven and MVV Maastricht. FV Emmen, VVV Venlo and Roda JC fans are more likely to back Germany The Moroccan team has most supporters among fans of ADO Den Haag and FC Utrecht – about 14%. Morocco starts its World Cup campaign on Friday afternoon against Iran. Germany will meet Mexico on Sunday and Belgium takes on Panama on Monday.  More >

'Ajax rejects AS Roma offer for Kluivert'

Dutch newspaper the Telegraaf is reporting that Amsterdam football club Ajax has turned down an offer for young striker Justin Kluivert from AS Roma. According to Italian media, Ajax and AS Roma have virtually sealed the deal, but the Telegraaf said Ajax has rejected the offer as too low. Kluivert, 19, is under contract to the Amsterdammers until mid 2019. The Telegraaf puts the offer at around €10m but Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport said AS Roma has offered around €25m, including bonuses. Kluivert, the sone of former international Patrick Kluivert, is in his second season with Ajax and has a fixed place in the line-up. He won his first cap for Oranje at the end of March. Ajax are due to start their preparations for the coming season in two weeks with a string of friendlies. The first official match is in late July, when Ajax plays in the first of three preliminary rounds for a place in the Champions League.  More >

Dutch duo take World Cup of Darts title

Dutch darts duo Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld have successfully defended their World Cup of Darts title with a 3-1 win over Scotland. It is the fourth time that the Netherlands has taken the title, putting the Dutch on level pegging with England. 'We kept putting on the pressure and we did not make any mistakes,' Van Gerwen said after the match. In May, Van Gerwen clinched the Premier League of Darts title for the fourth time.   More >

Appie Nouri's family take case to KNVB

The family of Ajax player Abdelhak Nouri are to ask a Dutch FA arbitration panel to hold the club responsible for the permanent brain injuries the midfielder suffered when he collapsed on the pitch during a friendly match last July. Family lawyer John Beer told NOS there was 'only one option' after the club denied any responsibility for the player's condition. The 21-year-old, known as 'Appie', has needed round-the-clock care since the incident during a game against Werder Bremen. In January it emerged that Nouri had been found to have a heart defect during a routine screening by the Dutch football association (KNVB) in 2014. The club were aware of the condition but decided it did not pose a risk to his health. His family were not informed. Beer said he had decided to take action against the club after watching video footage of the game in Bremen which he claimed showed Ajax had failed to follow medical guidelines. The player's contract states that the KNVB, rather than the courts, should be the arbiter in such disputes. 'The doctor was with Nouri after 37 seconds and after 29 seconds there was a defibrilator,' he said. The images suggest several minutes elapsed before the club doctor attempted to perform a heart massage. 'The family and Abdelhak are very attached to Ajax, but when you see the club cast aside all responsibility it only leaves one option,' said Beer. Ajax have not responded to the latest development in the case. The club has previously said that its medical staff responded 'very adequately' to the emergency.  More >

Michael van Gerwin wins League of Darts

Dutch darts player Michael van Gerwen clinched the Premier League of Darts title for the fourth time on Thursday evening, beating Michael Smith 11-4 at the O2 Arena in London. The win made it three in a row for Van Gerwen, who has taken the title in four of the six years he has been in the competition. It was also his 12th title this year, Sky Sports reported. Van Gerwen won £250,000 in prize money and according to pundits 'has rarely played better'. Just saying... 🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/Eu1K7ge9XY — Michael Van Gerwen (@MvG180) May 17, 2018   More >

Robin van Persie to stay at Feyenoord

Robin van Persie has committed to a further year with Rotterdam football club Feyenoord, despite the continuing physical problems he has alluded to in recent weeks. Van Persie, 34, said he had taken the decision after talks with trainer Giovanni van Bronckhorst and technical director Martin van Geel. He moved transfer free to his former club in January on an 18 month contract after 14 years playing abroad. 'I've thought about all possible scenarios but I'm just not ready to quit yet,' the striker, who has 102 caps, said. Van Persie began his career at Feyenoord and was part of the Uefa Cup winning team in his first season.   More >





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