DUTCH second-tier team Den Bosch have apologised to Ahmad Mendes Moreira after initially dismissing his racism complaint that stopped Sunday's game with Excelisor for ten minutes.

The referee halted proceedings early on in the 3-3 draw after a distraught Moreira led a walk-off.

He was reacting to continued chants emanating from a section of Den Bosch fans at Stadion De Vliert that the club first played down.

Both Den Bosch and coach Erik van der Ven insisted the abuse was merely a "crow sounds" method to distract the opposition – a spokesperson insisting fans had been "doing this for years, during every game."

However, as the Dutch FA and police authorities opened their investigation into the incident, the club apologised.

On Monday, they released a statement that read: "FC Den Bosch was completely wrong yesterday with its hasty statement.

"That reaction was an error, for which the club apologises to everyone, and in particular to Ahmad Mendes Moreira.

"We were deeply shocked by the discussions that were held on Monday morning with the players' group and other stakeholders.

"It appears that racist statements did come from the stands on Sunday. The club is further investigating what actually happened and will make every effort to find and punish those who are guilty."

Moreira was apoplectic and stated after the game that the abuse had begun in the first minute.

It followed Den Bosch fans' display of a "We love Zwarte Piet" banner, in relation to a controversial Christmas blackface character at the centre of a long-running social storm in the Netherlands.

The winger said: "Do you think we should accept this in 2019?

"I am angry and disappointed. Look, if you say 'Excelsior' p***y to me or whatever, I accept it. But it became personal. It started in the first minute."

The ten-minute break in play saw Den Bosch captain Danny Verbeek go over to the offending section and attempt to halt the abuse.

Referee Laurens Gerrets said afterwards: "I stopped the match. After consulting the dugouts, it was decided to start again. I made the choice with Excelsior – they wanted to continue."

In fact, once the game restarted it was Moreira who scored to put the visitors in front.

The Dutch winger, 24, celebrated in front of the fans who abused him and cupped his ears as the abuse rained down.

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