The Dutch World Cup squad has been banned from using social messaging service Twitter, the team's spokesman said Thursday, after striker Eljero Elia made a racist slur against one of his own friends.

During an Internet chat and an online game, the SV Hamburg winger described one of his friends as a "Moroccan cancer", prompting the response that he was a "nigger".

The exchange, filmed by the player's webcam and posted on the Internet, has created a stir in the Netherlands.

Elia, 23, apologised for the incident and protested that it was meant to be a light-hearted conversation between friends. "I feel really stupid," he admitted.

But team bosses moved swiftly to impose a ban on the use of Twitter at their Johannesburg base.

"We have under-estimated the impact of the new forms of communication. We wanted to give the players freedom, hoping they would act in a responsible manner.

"It's a real pity, but we will no longer allow them to communicate using new media," said spokesman Kees Jansma.

Holland start their Group E campaign against Denmark on Sunday.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP