Ajax midfielder Riechedly Bazoer was baffled by the racism he was subjected to during his side s 1-0 Eredivisie win over ADO Den Haag last week, but never considered walking off the pitch as he did not realise that was an option.
A group of ADO fans racially abused the Netherlands international throughout the game and the 19-year-old finds it astonishing racism is still an issue in Netherlands in 2016.
I don t understand that there s still racism in football stadiums in 2016, Bazoer told the Ajax website. I am disappointed that the insulting chants and monkey noises continued throughout the game.
But it s in the past now. I have received a lot of support from my mother and brother. That gives me strength. I just want to play football. I am a down-to-earth guy and am not too bothered by what happened.
They would not have done it had I not been playing a good game. But it is, of course, bad that it happened.
I was obviously focused on the game, but I did hear them shouting things at me and singing bad songs about me. I informed the referee about it and asked whether that was allowed. He told me he would do something about it and I focused on the game again.
I never considered walking off the pitch. I did not even know this was an option. I just wanted to put in a good performance.
