Michael vs Michael. 🎯 What a great game.

[Helpful Herbert]

Do they have to give up their original passport?

 

[jstar]

We have talked about the consequences of the Dutch players joining the Indonesian national team before and it is kind of amazing that nobody -not the players, not the teams, not the authorities, not the agents and legal advisors- seem to have realized what it would mean to give up a citizenship.

And now Dutch football is dealing with 'passportgate'. Up to 25 players are advised not to train and not to play because there are doubts about their EU residence and work permits.

It all started with a complaint from the football club NAC Breda. NAC lost to Go Ahead Eagles on March 15 with 6-0, but had doubts about Eagles player Dean James participating in that game. James, born in Leiden, chose to join the Indonesian national team in 2025. In the process, he would have lost his Dutch citizenship. Without that Dutch passport, James -as a non-EU citizen- must have a residence- and work-permit to be allowed to play football in the Netherlands.

That's where there is a problem. NAC was told that the full-back may not have such papers. The club, on the verge of relegation, asked the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to start an investigation.

The case was rather big in the media. But above all: it made the KNVB and other clubs think. In addition to James, 24 other players may have lost their Dutch nationality because they chose a different national team.

It is not the intention of the league to have the matches already played declared invalid. However, the clubs must find out as soon as possible -with legal support- whether all players have the right permits.

 

[harryopal1]

Great game? I would rather watch grass grow.

 

[jstar]

Feel free to contribute Harry. Perhaps about AFL, cricket or the NRL? I think many non Australians here have no idea about those sports.