Football club Cambuur identify man accused of making monkey noises to Willem II player

Following an investigation by SC Cambuur into the racist treatment of Willem II player Samuel Bamba, one person is now suspected of “unacceptable behavior,” the Friesland club announced on its website. During Saturday’s 2-2 home draw against Willem II in Leeuwarden, supporters of the home team reportedly made “monkey sounds” when Bamba was substituted about 15 minutes from time.

“The investigation into the incident and the identification of possible perpetrators is now in its final stage,” Cambuur wrote on its site. “Together with the authorities, all available means were used, and it was determined that one individual is suspected of unacceptable behavior. This person has been identified and will be brought before the club’s disciplinary committee,” the statement added.

Bamba spoke of his disappointment with the incident on Instagram after the game. “I am disappointed and angry that I have to talk about something like this after my very first match for Willem II. Maybe you shouldn’t go to a stadium, but to a zoo, if you want to talk to ‘monkeys.’”

After the incident, Samuel Bamba, accompanied by Cambuur player Tony Rölke, went to the stands to speak with the supporters. Rölke showed solidarity with Bamba and stressed that such behavior must not be tolerated. Cambuur’s manager, Henk de Jong, also condemned the actions after the game. “This is not what we stand for at Cambuur. We strongly condemn this behavior.”

The Dutch Players’ Union (VVCS) called for stricter and faster sanctions in cases of racist incidents in response to the behavior on Saturday, according to NOS. Chairman Evgeniy Levchenko described the incident as “very sad” and emphasized that more must be done to eradicate racism in football.

The Royal Dutch Football Association, KNVB, noted that discriminatory chants occur on average three times per year in stadiums. This applies to both the Eredivisie and the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, amounting to roughly 800 matches per season.

However, according to Jacco van Sterkenburg, professor of Racism, Inclusion, and Communication at Erasmus University, the number of reported racist incidents in stadiums is likely only the “tip of the iceberg.” He stated that many incidents go unreported because players are often reluctant to speak out about racism for fear of negative consequences for their careers.