The Hague, Jan 30 (IANS):
The Dutch Cup quarter-final match between FC Den Bosch and AZ Alkmaar was disrupted temporarily Tuesday after fans of the home team racially abused AZ striker Jozy Altidore.
After two warnings by the stadium announcer, referee Reinold Wiedemeijer threatened to suspend the match five minutes from half-time after racist chants. However, Altidore himself persuaded the referee to continue, reports Xinhua.
In the second half, the referee did suspend the match after one of the sideline referees was hit by a snowball and new racist chants were heard.
“It’s disappointing these things still happen in this time,” Altidore reacted to TV Channel Eredivisie Live. “I just hope these people can get a way to improve themselves. I felt the obligation to my club and my family not to react.”
AZ won the quarter-final match against the second division side 5-0. Viktor Elm, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Adam Maher and Altidore scored. Den Bosch players Jelle de Bock and Joey Brock received a red card.