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Dutch football in chaos over potential mass match replays

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Dutch football in chaos over potential mass match replays

Results from up to 133 matches in the Dutch top football league could potentially be affected due to irregularities involving player eligibility and documentation.

Axar.az reports, citing ESPN, legal proceedings in Utrecht could determine whether matches involving ineligible players must be replayed, with the possibility that at least 133 fixtures could ultimately come under review.

The issue stems from the so-called “Passportgate” crisis, in which several players with Indonesian, Surinamese, or Cape Verdean nationality were found to have potentially lost their Dutch citizenship under certain legal conditions after acquiring foreign passports, which in turn affected their work permit status in the Netherlands.

Under Dutch regulations, players who lose EU citizenship require valid work permits to be eligible to play professionally.

The report indicates that the issue went unnoticed for several years before emerging in recent months, prompting widespread legal and administrative scrutiny across Dutch football.

The controversy began after NAC Breda challenged the eligibility of an opposing player and requested that one match be replayed. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and the Eredivisie supervisory board rejected the request, after which NAC Breda took the case to court in Utrecht.

A ruling in the case could determine whether broader appeals follow, potentially affecting dozens of matches across the league.

Date
2026.04.30 / 19:39
Author
Axar.az
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