The 61-year old Drents football coach is mystified as to how he may have caused offence
Ron Jans, who formerly managed FC Groningen, SC Heerenveen, and PEC Zwolle, has resigned as manager of FC Cincinnati in the USA following allegations of discrimination. He is now back in his home town of Tynaarlo in Drenthe, as reported by RTV Drenthe.
His reputation in America suffered hugely after he used the hugely offensive word N***** in the dressing room. An investigation was subsequently launched, with Jans saying that he had uttered the slur in the context of a hip-hop song.
However, the MLS Player’s Union, as reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer, has said that this narrative is false: “The narrative that the conduct here involved singing along to song lyrics is completely false, despite the former coach’s recent assertions,” MLSPA Executive Director Bob Foose said in a statement.
In a conversation with the Dutch broadcaster NOS, Jans says that he would like to leave the entire affair behind him. Yet there is something that still gnaws at him: he says he does not know what exactly he did wrong.
Jans says he has no idea what the players’ union is referring to. “I have sung that word,” he tells the NOS. “And the rest … maybe I’m too naive. Or too open. But the whole story is not clear to me, what exactly are the other charges? And who filed them? I really don’t know.”
MLSPA Director Bob Foose also addressed Jans’ comments: “Also false is the narrative that a complaint was filed by any particular player or players. These intentional falsehoods have added to the toxicity of the atmosphere and encouraged further, deplorable abuse of players. They were clear attempts to manipulate the truth and intimidate those who call out unacceptable behavior.”
