The talk of the day at PSV is the events during the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup. At Spakenburg-PSV there were homophobic chants towards Xavi Simons. A day later things went wrong in the cockpit when Davy Klaassen was hit by a lighter thrown from the audience. Van Nistelrooij responded to these incidents on Friday: “For me, gay is not a swear word.”
Friday afternoon with Ruud van Nistelrooij was little about football. The swearing cannonade and the lighter were the subject of conversation instead. The PSV trainer had a strong opinion about it. The club has already written a letter to the KNVB about the homophobic chants towards Simons.
“It’s not an issue if you’re gay or straight.”
“For me, gay is not a swear word,” Van Nistelrooij responded to the chants that Simons got at his head. “It is not an issue whether you are gay or straight. But that’s how it’s used.”
The PSV trainer also condemns the incidents in De Kuip a day later. “Player safety is the most important thing there is. We experienced it ourselves against Sevilla. Then we immediately said that this should never happen again.”
“Go enjoy the game.”
The former striker longs for a time when there was still ‘civilized’ abuse. “Go enjoy the game. Cheer on your team. And of course you can make it difficult for the opponent. I long for the days of hi-ha dog cock. That was a wonderful time.”
Finally, Van Nistelrooij broadens the problem and hopes for solutions. “You also see players on it social media are no longer safe. As football clubs we pay enough attention to it. It is now up to the authorities to come up with solutions. Then we can focus on the game again.
READ ALSO: Xavi Simons called ‘gay’, PSV sends angry letter to KNVB