Ronald Koeman has stepped down from his second spell as Netherlands manager following the team’s elimination from the World Cup, with the 63-year-old hinting the role may prove to be his last in management.
The Dutch crashed out in a penalty shootout against Morocco, with Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville all missing their efforts. The three players were subsequently subjected to discriminatory, racist and hateful comments on social media, according to the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).
Koeman reflected on the disappointment in a statement, saying: “We all dreamed of a World Cup in which we would write history. That didn’t work out. No-one is more disappointed about that than me. The past years have made me realise again that there are more important things than football. Football has been my life, but health is priceless. When someone you love is fighting a tough battle, your perspective changes.”
The KNVB confirmed it will pursue criminal charges against those who abused its players, outlining the process by which reports are assessed by legal staff before potential referral to the Public Prosecution Service. The association pointed to previous cases that resulted in two people being sentenced to prison and another receiving a suspended sentence.
In a firm statement condemning the abuse, the KNVB said: “Football brings together millions of different people, whereas discrimination does the exact opposite. It therefore runs counter to everything football stands for.”
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
