Humberto Tan is happy that discrimination and/or racist misconduct is being tackled in the football stadiums. The presenter is a member of the Mijnals committee, which helps the KNVB and the central government with advice and action in combating racism and discrimination, and promoting inclusiveness in football ‘.
Last weekend Willem II attacker Samuel Bamba was racistly treated at SC Cambuur. After the last whistle, he went brotherly with Cambuur player Tony Rölke towards the fans to start the conversation. Afterwards, Cambuur trainer Henk de Jong also condemned the behavior. Something that the Mijnals committee was satisfied with.
“It is and remains ugly when something like that happens, but I saw two things that were good,” Tan says in conversation with ESPN. “One: the self -cleaning capacity with the public and the opponent. Really good that fans made apologies and Rölke walked with Bamba. Two: the words of Henk de Jong. Compare that with the first reactions after the cessation of FC Den Bosch – Excelsior, in 2019. A big difference. Not recognizing what happens, that doesn’t give hope.”
Tan is also happy that nowadays clubs take action themselves if perpetrators of racism have been portrayed. The presenter points to FC Twente, which gave sixteen of their own supporters a stadium ban after racist expressions against a Lazio player in the Europa League. The UEFA fine of 83,125 euros was also partially recovered from the perpetrators. “A fantastic arrangement,” said Tan. “So stricter punishment is being punished, but also preventively action must be taken more often.”
The Mijnals committee wants more measures and is thinking of the license conditions. If a club does not do enough against persistent misconduct of its own supporters, then that must have consequences for the license application. “We have now suggested that idea at the KNVB,” Tan says. “That you not only have to prove that you are financially healthy as a club, but also socially healthy. If clubs do nothing, then the future can be at stake. Fortunately, the willingness at the clubs and KNVB can be great.”
That underlines Jaap Paulsen, spokesperson for ‘Our football is from everyone’, who falls under the KNVB. “We are investigating the possibilities of this proposal from the MijnALS committee. License requirements with effort obligations, you must see it. The onset has been given.” A punishment as a point deduction is already possible with racism. With evidence, a fine of 20,000 euros and a competition without (part of the) home/audience follows. If it happens again within two years, the punishment for playing without the public will become heavier and an additional sanction can follow. For example: deducted points.
