Wang Bohao Photo: VCG

Dutch football governing body KNVB told the Global Times on Tuesday that the fan who made a racist gesture directed at Chinese footballer Wang Bohao of club Den Bosch could face a national stadium ban for 10 years.

"For expressions of discrimination, he can expect a national stadium ban for 10 years and a fine of 450 euros," a KNVB official told the Global Times in an email. 

"All kinds of discrimination are unacceptable, that is for us our norm. Expressions of discrimination always have consequences," the KNVB official said.

During the match between Dutch second-division club Willem II and FC Den Bosch in the Eerste Divisie, a Willem II spectator in the stands was captured on video making a "pulling eye corners" gesture toward Wang, a move widely seen as a racially offensive act targeting individuals of Asian descent.

The KNVB said the club has to trace and identify visitors who break rules and then give their names to the governing body before it can impose sanctions.

Willem II has issued an apology to FC Den Bosch and Wang, it said in a statement to the Global Times on Tuesday, noting the individual behind the incident has been identified.

"Following the match, the club reviewed the available footage and statements. The individual believed to be responsible for the incident has been identified," the club said. 

"Willem II has been in contact with FC Den Bosch and has offered its apologies to both the club and player Wang Bohao," it said. "As a gesture of support, the club has also sent a small token to the player."

Wang, a Chinese under-23 national team player who is among the finalists at the U23 Asian Cup earlier this year, joined Den Bosch on loan from China League One club Shaanxi Union in August 2025.

The Tilburg-based club Willem II noted that the club's supporters also alerted the club to the racist behavior.

"Supporters themselves alerted the club to the behavior, which shows that the football community does not accept this kind of conduct," it said. "Racism has no place in football, in our stadium, or in society."

"Within Willem II we continue to promote equality and respect through various club and community programs. These values are fundamental to our club, and it remains important to actively reinforce them today."

FC Den Bosch, Wang's club, also responded with a statement supporting their player and condemning the act after the incident. 

"What happened to our player Wang on Sunday, we find very unpleasant. This is painful," the club said in a statement. "For him, and for everyone who just wants to play football or watch football. Wang is not alone in this. We stand with him. And with all the players this happens to."

The Den Bosch statement further addressed the nature of the gesture. 

"We also support all players who experience this. Making a pulling eye corners gesture because a player is Asian is not a joke, nor is it competitive rivalry. This is simply racism," the statement reads. "There is no place for racism in our football."

Currently Willem II sit at fifth in the 20-team Dutch second-tier league with 47 points, while Den Bosch are in 10th place with 40 points.