“So ugly that he can not play,” TV commentator offended Besiktas professional Vida

The Dutch TV commentator Sierd de Vos caused a scandal at the Champions League game between Besiktas and Ajax Amsterdam with an insulting statement about Domagoj Vida.

“Besiktas has applied for an exception so that Vida can play. He is so ugly that he is usually not allowed to play because children are watching,” de Vos began his broadcast on the Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sports.

Outrage in the Netherlands over insulting Besiktas professional Vida

The comment by the commentator, who is known in the Netherlands for his controversial manner, sparked violent reactions in Vida’s Croatian homeland. “Why is he doing this job? What a scandalous appearance of the commentator,” wrote the sports platform Goal. “Ajax’s win was overshadowed by a disgraceful performance by Sierd de Vos.”

The broadcaster initially posted an excerpt from the comment on Twitter, but the tweet was later deleted. De Vos himself did not initially comment on his questionable choice of words.

Insult to Besiktas’ Vida may have a history

De Vos’ verbal derailment may have a history – if not an immediate one. The 32-year-old Vida is also known as the “wink Croatian” in the Netherlands. The nickname refers to an incident ten years ago.

In December 2011, Ajax Amsterdam was eliminated from the group stage because Olympique Lyon won 7-1 after a 0-1 break after a break against Dinamo Zagreb and thus solved the ticket for the knockout phase due to the better goal difference.

The former Dinamo defender winked after the fifth goal of the French the OL striker Bafetimbi Gomis and raised his thumb when he tried to retrieve the ball. The Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant then raised suspicions of match-fixing.