A bunch of Dutch soccer fans faced a backlash after they donned blackface in an try and imitate former Dutch soccer star Ruud Gullit through the European Cup in Berlin.

Ruud Gullit, born Rudi Dil in Amsterdam, was the kid of a Surinamese father and a Dutch mother. He began playing soccer as a young child before the age of 10 and played professionally for several soccer clubs in Europe throughout his adult life.

At the age of 26, Gullit played a key role in the Dutch national team’s victory at Euro 1988, beating the Soviet Union in the ultimate. The Netherlands returned to Euro 1992, but lost to Denmark in the semi-finals.

In 1995, Gullit signed for Chelsea, where he led the team to victory in the FA Cup in his first yr. It can be Chelsea’s first major title in 26 years. The following yr he became player manager of Chelsea Football Club.

30 years since this photo was taken and we became European Champions! It looks as if yesterday. Do you continue to remember where you were that day? pic.twitter.com/6swNxt5eYP

— Ruud Gullit (@GullitR) June 25, 2018

In addition to being an expert player, Guillit had a profession as a manager of several teams. He was also involved in music, and his anti-apartheid song “South Africa” ​​peaked at number 3 on the Dutch Top 40 chart.

Gullit has been an undeniable legend in his home country throughout his profession, which is why through the opening match of Euro 2024 against Poland on June 16, several fans decided to to pay tribute for football, painting their faces black and wearing locking wigs. To drive home the purpose, in addition they wore orange Gullit replica shirts to commemorate the Netherlands’ Euro 1988 title.

It didn’t take long for fan photos to go viral. Many accused Gullit’s supporters of crossing the road from flattery to outright racism.

For centuries, blackface has invoked a racist, painful, and deeply offensive history. From research conducted by: This tradition is believed to this point back over 200 years Press Association. However, many once considered blackface minstrelsy as a form of entertainment.

In the 1830s, white people darkened their faces, creating caricatures of black men and women. The performances were intended to perpetuate stereotypes about black people. The name Jim Crow law comes from a personality played by blackface entertainer Thomas Dartmouth Rice, who claimed that his performance of “Jump, Jim Crow” (or “Jumping Jim Crow”) was inspired by an individual in bondage he once saw.

In the Netherlands, the Christmas character “Black Pete” has been at the middle of controversy for years. “Zwarte Piet,” the Dutch translation of “Black Pete,” has been widely seen at Christmas festivals and on television throughout the European country. Following Dutch tradition, a blackface figure works as an assistant and hands out candies and gifts to children during Christmas.

As the Black Lives Matter movement grew across the U.S. in 2020, the Netherlands also began to reassess its loyalty to “Black Pete.” Some municipalities and school boards in the Netherlands have decided to stop presenting the character during annual celebrations.

On June 16, a social media user shared a screenshot of fans dressed as Gullit. The report rejected the argument that the fans’ faces were “painted orange.”

“My answers were obviously crazy. I just wanted to end the argument that they were painted orange. Look at the difference in skin tone from your face to your hands. Regardless of shade, skin color is not a costume” – an individual wrote on X.

Other X users joined in vilifying the Netherlands for its apparently racist traditions. “There are many things I love about the Netherlands, but crazy racist costumes are not one of them” – one person he tweeted. “During my yr I saw a random Blackface, Yellowface, Brownface; literally every horribly offensive stereotype you’ll be able to imagine: worn by white people as a fancy dress, painted on.

The fan, who’s a white woman, also revealed that while living in the Netherlands, she witnessed her black friend being called a racial slur.

“My friend was accidentally called N slur while she was riding her bike in the street minding her own business,” she said. “I would see people who were most likely immigrants from Syria or other Arabic-speaking countries treated worse than I was if they were locals and spoke the language!”

One fan said: “The Dutch will never overcome racist allegations.” While one other added, “Blackface is always derogatory, idc. If it’s part of your culture, then your culture is racist. You can pay tribute without it!”

Even Dutch residents were embarrassed by the actions of Dutch fans.

“As a Dutchman, I hope he painted himself orange like everyone else, but it… is so outdated and tiring” – fan he wrote. “I don’t understand why they even let them into the stadium. “Say no to racism, but let people in blackface into the stadium?”

As for the match itself, the Netherlands defeated Poland 2-1. They will then face France on June 21.