Former Real Madrid man's racist comment at the World Cup sparks controversy

Rafael van der Vaart, former Real Madrid player and runner-up in the World Cup with the Netherlands, is at the center of a controversy after making racist comments during a broadcast of the 2026 World Cup. When analyzing the draw between the Netherlands and Japan, Van der Vaart made a stereotypical joke about the appearance of Japanese players, which generated immediate criticism on social media and among anti-discrimination entities. The incident occurred during the live broadcast of the game, where Van der Vaart, when commenting on the players' performance, made a reference that many considered offensive and disrespectful.