TV documentary explores racism and diversity in Dutch football
Three months after a Dutch national team selfie sparked a torrent of racist abuse on social media, a TV programme in the Netherlands is exploring prejudice and discrimination in Dutch sport and society.[/intro_paragraph]
The current affairs documentary, constituted of four 25-minute episodes, hears from a range of voices, including politicians, sportsmen, experts and social workers, to better understand the problem and its extent in the country.
Through the experiences of the Liberian-born Dutch player Seku Conneh and the Dutch-Moroccan football manager Alami Ahannach, the episode dedicated to football addresses different levels of discrimination in the sport, including racist incidents and the under-representation of ethnic minorities in Dutch football.
During the episode, Conneh, who in September 2014 was subjected to monkey chants during a Dutch KNVB cup match, talks about his experiences dealing with racism, as well as Ahannach, who also highlights the lack of opportunities for ethnic minorities in football's leading positions.
"I have heard people in a number of clubs say that a head coach is supposed to be white" Ahannach explains in the documentary.
The documentary also mentions Fare and UEFA The glass ceiling in European football report, which was presented last December in Amsterdam and looks into different levels of representation of visible ethnic minorities and women in leadership and management positions in European football.
Watch the full episode here.
Latest News Articles

Another season of homophobia and ineffective responses in France
Why is homophobia such a persistent issue in French football? It’s a question on the minds of a growing number of people. Despite initiatives…

Five years after George Floyd
Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.

Statement from the Fare network on the English FA and Scottish FA bans on trans women
The Fare network is disappointed at the decisions announced today by the English Football Association (FA) and the Scottish FA (SFA) to ban…

BLOG: Rafael Villanueva on challenging homophobic football culture in Mexico
“Poll after poll of the population shows the disregard most Mexicans have towards the LGBTIQ+ community. Homophobia is normalised from abuse, to human rights violations, to murder.”

Policy and Research Intern – Human Rights and World Cup 2026
Time Commitment: 3–4 days per week Duration: 6-8 weeks Overview We are seeking a motivated and highly literate intern to support our work on issues…

Bologna hosts the radical joy of the Giochi Antiracist Games this June
The Bonori sports centre in Bologna will become the vibrant heart of something different when between June 20th and 22nd the Giochi Antirazzisti takes…

Another season of homophobia and ineffective responses in France
Why is homophobia such a persistent issue in French football? It’s a question on the minds of a growing number of people. Despite initiatives…

Five years after George Floyd
Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.

Statement from the Fare network on the English FA and Scottish FA bans on trans women
The Fare network is disappointed at the decisions announced today by the English Football Association (FA) and the Scottish FA (SFA) to ban…

BLOG: Rafael Villanueva on challenging homophobic football culture in Mexico
“Poll after poll of the population shows the disregard most Mexicans have towards the LGBTIQ+ community. Homophobia is normalised from abuse, to human rights violations, to murder.”

Policy and Research Intern – Human Rights and World Cup 2026
Time Commitment: 3–4 days per week Duration: 6-8 weeks Overview We are seeking a motivated and highly literate intern to support our work on issues…

Bologna hosts the radical joy of the Giochi Antiracist Games this June
The Bonori sports centre in Bologna will become the vibrant heart of something different when between June 20th and 22nd the Giochi Antirazzisti takes…

Another season of homophobia and ineffective responses in France
Why is homophobia such a persistent issue in French football? It’s a question on the minds of a growing number of people. Despite initiatives…

Five years after George Floyd
Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.