A major race row has erupted here in England’s host city of Krakow after members of the Holland team complained that they were subjected to monkey chants during a training session.

Holland captain Mark van Bommel slammed the abuse. ‘It is a real disgrace, especially after getting back from Auschwitz to be confronted with this,’ he said.

The Dutch, like England and Italy, have chosen the picturesque city as their base for Euro 2012 and on Wednesday they opened the doors to the public — just as England will today when they invite 3,500 ticketed spectators to watch their session at the Hutnik Stadium.

Chants: Holland had to switch ends after a minority of fans at the Wisla Krakow stadium were heard performing monkey chants

The Dutch are using Wisla Krakow’s ground and among the 25,000 spectators who attended their session was a group of protesters, keen to express how unhappy they were that a foreign team were using their facilities at the Miejski Stadium.

It was when the Dutch players went on a two-lap warm-up jog that the racist abuse occurred, with witnesses claiming around 500 fans subjected Holland’s black squad members to monkey chants. The abuse was said to have been even louder on their second circuit.

Van Bommel responded by telling his team-mates to pick up their kit and move to the other end of the pitch to continue their warm-up.

A report appeared in the respected Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf, which UEFA officials responded to by attempting to deny the abuse had happened.

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