Racist chants hurled at Jozy Altidore in cup game

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -AZ Alkmaar says U.S. striker Jozy Altidore was targeted by racist chants during a Dutch cup quarterfinal against second-tier FC Den Bosch on Tuesday.

AZ's director of football, Earnie Stewart, told Dutch television at halftime "it is terribly sad that this can happen for those involved and for lovers of football in the Netherlands.''

According to AZ's official twitter feed, referee Reinold Wiedemeijer wanted to stop the match in the first half "because of jungle sounds chanted at Altidore'' but AZ players, including Altidore, who is black, persuaded him not to.

Wiedemeijer halted play briefly in the second half because of fans throwing balls of ice at his linesmen, according to the Dutch Eredivisie official Twitter feed and Dutch news website Nu.nl.

Altidore scored one goal as AZ won 5-0.