MARC OVERMARS has been banned for one-year by the Dutch Sports Tribunal after confessing to sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues.
The messages are said to have been sent over “an extended period of time” during his stint as director of football at Ajax.
Overmars, 50, left the Dutch giants in February 2022, joining current side Royal Antwerp of Belgium a month later.
According to The Athletic, the former Arsenal winger has been banned from “exercising any function” with any organisation affiliated with the Dutch FA.
He has been hit with a two-year ban, although one of them is suspended.
The suspension does not currently affect Overmars’ position at Royal Antwerp, who have not commented on the matter.
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But the Dutch Sports Tribunal have not ruled out passing on their ruling to Fifa for further review – with world football’s governing body possessing the authority to extend the ban to other territories, should they see fit.
Overmars joined Arsenal from Ajax in 1997 and spent three years in North London.
He made 139 appearances for the Gunners over three years before signing for Barcelona in 2000.
Following his playing career he became a shareholder in Dutch club Go Ahead Eagles, prior to eventually returning to Ajax initially as a youth coach.
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He landed the director of football job in Amsterdam in July 2012, spending nearly a decade in the position before he resigned last year.
Upon his departure, he said: “I am ashamed. Last week, I was confronted with reports about my behaviour. And how this has come across to others.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t realise that I was crossing the line with this, but that was made clear to me in recent days. I suddenly felt enormous pressure. I apologise.
“Certainly, for someone in my position, this behaviour is unacceptable. I now see that too.
“But it is too late. I see no other option but to leave Ajax.
“This also has a major impact on my private situation. That is why I ask everyone to leave me and my family alone.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
