Ronald Koeman resigned as Netherlands coach after their World Cup exit and due to racist abuse towards players.
Ronald Koeman has resigned as Netherlands manager following their World Cup exit, which led to "horrific" racist abuse towards players who missed penalties. Koeman's team was eliminated by Morocco in the round of 16 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville missed their shots and were subjected to discriminatory, racist and hateful comments on social media, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said. Koeman, 63, left his second term in charge of the national team and hinted that he may have ended his coaching career. He said on Instagram: "Looking back on my career, above all I feel proud. I have worked with clubs and people who have shaped me and given me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. We all dreamed of a World Cup where history could be made. This was not possible. No one is more disappointed about this than me. The last few years have made me realize 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 point of view changes." Koeman's wife, Bartina, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The KNVB said it intends to take legal action against anyone who abused its players. “We find this unacceptable,” the federation said. "Once a complaint is filed, legal staff assess whether the statement constitutes a punishable offense. This can lead to a formal complaint with the Public Prosecutor, who can then initiate a criminal investigation." England players Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho suffered abuse after missing penalties in the 2021 European Championship final against Italy. This led to two people being sentenced to prison terms and another to a suspended sentence. "Football brings together millions of different people, while discrimination does exactly the opposite. It therefore goes against everything that football stands for," the KNVB added. Koeman's contract would have expired soon anyway, but he believes it is a good time to step away. His wife is ill right now and he wants to spend time with her, and that is an important aspect of the decision. Koeman had two terms in charge of the Netherlands: the first started in 2018, and in that case it was considered a great success, because he brought in players like Frenkie De Jong and the team achieved important victories in the Nations League, as well as qualifying for the European Championships (then postponed). But when Koeman left the national team to go to Barcelona, the KNVB chose to recall him, but this second adventure was very disappointing. There were no results, and indeed Koeman's tactical choices were highly criticized. In the last match, against Morocco, the team played in a very defensive manner, which left many professionals and fans perplexed. It is clear that a change is now necessary for the Dutch Federation.
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