Rafael van der Vaart issues apology for racist joke about Japan players

[p]The 43-year-old former player-turned-pundit was on duty for Dutch channel NOS during their World Cup opener against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] on Sunday, Jue 14th.[/p][p]Japan ended up snatching a late draw thanks to an 89th-minute header from Crystal Palace midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kamada-daichi/bayITLyE/"]Daichi Kamada[/a] from a corner.[/p][p]Discussing Kamada's late equaliser [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-der-vaart-rafael/Us1mAoRL/"]Van der Vaart[/a] said on NOS: [b]"The perfect corner is really very difficult to defend. This one came with the right speed, just over the five-yard line. [/b][/p][p][b]“With a bit of luck it would have gone in, but the corner was amazing. They (the Japanese players) do look alike, of course, maybe he (Van de Ven) thought that… That’s a joke, of course. I hardly dare say anything."[/b][/p][image alt="Rafael van der Vaart (R) is often seen on Dutch television as a pundit alongisde Pierre van Hooijdonk" id="fe2e7a82-ba3c-4230-b5a8-6e0eae4eca17" credit-line="ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Broer van den Boom" guid="858972c1-0778-4e55-99e9-95867efa0fff" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Per [i][b][a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7369658/2026/06/17/van-der-vaart-netherlands-japan-comments/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.q1A.FKDf.KMBFreFZ3PeJ"]The Athletic[/a][/b][/i], Van Der Vaart has now apologised for his comments, saying: [b][i]“[/i]I understand that some people found my words hurtful. I sincerely regret that. If I have upset people because of this, I offer my apologies. That was never my intention.[/b][/p][p][b]“I take the reactions that have arisen seriously and understand that words can be interpreted differently. [/b][b]Therefore, I think it is important to make it clear that there was no racist or discriminatory intent behind my statement.[/b][/p][p][b]“I hope this explanation provides more clarity about my intentions and the context in which the remark was made. [/b][b]He did not explain what the intention behind his comments actually was."[/b][/p]