Dutch coach apologises to Japanese

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk has apologised for his team’s unsporting play during a friendly against Japan here on Saturday.

“In the first half the players vented their frustration in a bad way,” admitted Van Marwijk after the match which his side won 3-0.

The coach singled out Nigel de Jong and Wesley Sneijder in particular for criticism.

“Wesley would have deserved the red (card) for one of his tackles,” he said.

“I went to apologise to the referee after these fouls. These are things which I cannot accept. I told the players concerned as much at half-time.

“It’s a type of behaviour which could cost us dearly at the World Cup. This cannot happen again. Now the players know it.”

The Dutch players commited numerous fouls in the first half, frustrated by the Japanese early domination. Both de Jong and Sneijder received yellow cards after tough tackles.