Dutch prosecutors fine 3 for racist online posts
Xinhua, March 9, 2015 Adjust font size:
Three people were fined for posting racist comments online last year in reaction to a selfie featuring nine members of the country's national football team, Dutch prosecutors announced Monday.
The three people, from the Hague, Rotterdam and Brida respectively, must pay 360 euro (390.76 U.S. dollars) in fine, otherwise they will be taken to court, according to the prosecutors.
The picture, posted in November last year on Instagram by Dutch midfielder Leroy Fer, featured eight black players together with Karim Rekik, who has a Tunisian father.
Reposted on a soccer website's Facebook page, the picture sparked a slew of distasteful comments.
Fer welcomed the prosecutors' decision, saying that "it is a clear signal to everybody that this kind of thing can't happen".
Robin van Persie, captain of the Oranje (Orange) Eleven as the Dutch team is known, said "we all represent the Netherlands and color plays no role." Enditem