Rafael van der Vaart is annoyed by the supporters who whistled Steven Berghuis on Monday evening in the World Cup qualifier between the Netherlands and Gibraltar (6-0). The attacker returned to De Kuip in the service of the Dutch for the first time since his transfer from Feyenoord to Ajax. Some of the Rotterdammers present showed their dissatisfaction with that transfer by whistling Berghuis at every contact with the ball.
“I would like to say something about the audience”, Van der Vaart indicates of his own accord during the review of the NOS. “I am a bit disappointed in that. Berghuis has been whistled quite a lot. If you play an international match, you can expect the home crowd to support you. We are behind glass here and we heard it. There are of course many Feyenoord supporters in De Kuip. It happened to me once, when the Ajax players were whistled during an international match in Utrecht.”
Unfriendly welcome for Berghuis in De Kuip leads to a lot of misunderstanding
The reception for Steven Berghuis was responded to on social media.
Van der Vaart refers to the friendly match against Liechtenstein in September 2004 (3-0 win), the only international match that the the Dutch played in Utrecht this century. “After that we never played an international match there. You also have to protect a player. Of course many people have not done it, but I could hear it very well. That is not appropriate.” Pierre van Hooijdonk agrees with him. “When the Dutch national team plays, everyone should just be the Dutch, ready. Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV should not matter. The point he makes is right.”
Louis van Gaal is also asked about the whistle after the press conference. He doesn’t value it too much. “I myself have also been the target of noises, here in the Feyenoord stadium. That’s just a limited number of people. I don’t think you should pay so much attention to that,” said the national coach, who indicates that the public in general was “very enthusiastic”.