Former Netherlands player Rafael van der Vaart has insisted there “was no racist or discriminatory intent” behind his remarks, after he said Japan’s players “look alike” live on air.Van der Vaart, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is now a pundit, and was working for NOS TV in the Netherlands during his country’s first match of the World Cup.The Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan in their opening game in Group F, with Daichi Kamada scoring a late equaliser from a corner for Hajime Moriyasu’s side.Debating Japan’s late goal in the TV studio after the match, Van der Vaart discussed Micky van de Ven’s role in defending the corner.“He’s completely lost (his man), you can see him running around,” he said. “If you’re the one assigned to man-mark, then you’re responsible for your man.“They do look alike, of course, maybe he thought that. That’s a joke, of course. I’m almost afraid to say anything.”Responding to those comments today, in a statement issued through his management team and seen by The Athletic, Van der Vaart said his intention was “never to insult, hurt, or discriminate against anyone”.He added how he opposed racism in any form and had “respect for people of every origin and background.”Van der Vaart, who also represented Real Madrid as a player before his spell at Tottenham, continued: “I understand that some people found my words hurtful. I sincerely regret that. If I have upset people because of this, I offer my apologies. That was never my intention. I take the reactions that have arisen seriously and understand that words can be interpreted differently.“Therefore, I think it is important to make it clear that there was no racist or discriminatory intent behind my statement.“I hope this explanation provides more clarity about my intentions and the context in which the remark was made.”Elsewhere, during his analysis of Netherlands’ draw with Japan on Sunday, Van der Vaart was critical of Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk, who was voted player of the match.“A bit like a Boeing 747 turning,” the 43-year-old said about Liverpool’s captain. “I hope he starts turning a bit faster during the tournament.”The Athletic has contacted NOS for a comment.Jun 17, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms