Dutch football legend accused of being racist after saying Japanese players look alike

While analyzing the buildup to Japan's late equalizer, Van der Vaart suggested that Dutch defender Micky van de Ven made a crucial marking error. He noted that Japanese striker Koki Ogawa was left completely unmarked, allowing him to head the ball without any significant pressure from the defense, Metro reported.

When discussing why Van de Ven might have lost track of his opponent, Van der Vaart remarked: "They do look alike, of course, maybe he thought that..."

Sensing the awkward atmosphere after his comment, the 43-year-old former midfielder quickly added that he was only making a joke.

However, his quick correction did not stop the public backlash. Many viewers and commentators felt the statement was a discriminatory stereotype that all Asians look the same.

Co-pundit Pierre van Hooijdonk was also on set and subtly reminded Van der Vaart that such comments can easily lead to negative consequences nowadays. Van der Vaart later admitted that "nowadays, you can't say anything without repercussions," Chosun reported.

The former Real Madrid and Tottenham midfielder's words sparked debate across social media platforms.

On X, a user mocked him: "Don't be ridiculous. It's true that all Japanese people look the same, or maybe Van der Vaart was lying."

Another commented on Reddit: "That was a racist joke."

When another user asked why the statement was considered racist, an account provided a detailed explanation.

"All races can appear similar if you don't interact with them regularly. For example, white people might all look the same to someone who is not exposed to Western culture or media. Such silly comments are often a sign that the speaker lacks exposure to other cultures."

Besides his remark, Van der Vaart also took aim at the national team's tactical approach during the match. He argued that Ronald Koeman's players chose to drop back into a defensive stance after taking the lead, rather than continuing to press high and finish off their opponent.

Earlier in the broadcast, Van der Vaart had also drawn attention for publicly criticizing national team captain Virgil van Dijk during the halftime interval. Van der Vaart claimed he was surprised by the Liverpool defender's lack of agility, comparing him to a "Boeing 747" when changing direction.

However, that analogy quickly fell flat. Van Dijk delivered a commanding performance throughout the second half and was ultimately voted Player of the Match.

Dutch football pundit and former player Rafael Van de Vaart. Photo by Instagram/@rafaelvdvaart