2026 World Cup: Rafael Van der Vaart apologizes for comments regarding Japanese players
June 20, 2026 · Global
Rafael van der Vaart apologized for his comments about Japanese players during a World Cup match, stating that there was no intention to offend.
Former Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has apologized after his remarks that Japan's players "all looked the same" in their 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. The 43-year-old Van der Vaart, then working as an analyst for Dutch television station NOS TV, made the comments after Micky van de Ven lost control of Koki Ogawa, who scored Japan's equaliser.
"They all look the same, of course, maybe he thinks so," said the former Netherlands international when analyzing Van de Ven's defence. Van der Vaart, who has 109 caps and was part of the Netherlands team that lost the 2010 World Cup final, apologized for remarks deemed offensive.
He said: "It was never my intention to offend, hurt or discriminate against anyone. I oppose racism in all its forms and respect people of all backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. I understand that some people may find my words offensive or hurtful. I am truly sorry about that. If my comments have caused pain or discomfort, I would like to offer a sincere apology. That was never my intention."
Anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out criticized Van der Vaart and called on the broadcaster to be more careful. A joint statement from Kick It Out and the Frank Soo Foundation, a foundation that supports the East and Southeast Asian community, said: "It is disappointing to hear a former player spread racist innuendo about the Japanese team and then attempt to defend the comments as a joke. While he claims there was no racist intent in what he said, such comments can still have an impact on those involved and the wider East and Southeast Asian community, as we have seen with previous examples directed at players. The World Cup attracts huge global attention, so it is always important for guests to be careful with their language and for broadcasters to take responsibility for those who appear on their shows, whether that is through additional education or training.