Arsenal legend Marc Overmars’ Dutch ban for sexting extended worldwide by Fifa

Disgraced Arsenal legend Marc Overmars's one-year fixed ban from working in Dutch football has been extended worldwide by Fifa

Disgraced Arsenal legend Marc Overmars's one-year fixed ban from working in Dutch football has been extended worldwide by Fifa. Photo: Tom Goyvaerts/AFP

Published Jan 10, 2024

Share

Disgraced former international Marc Overmars's one-year fixed ban from working in Dutch football for sending sexually explicit pictures and videos to women staff has been extended worldwide by Fifa, the Dutch football federation said on Wednesday.

The ex-Netherlands winger resigned as Ajax's director of football in February 2022 after admitting sending a "series of inappropriate messages" to female colleagues, saying he was "ashamed" of his behaviour.

A month later, he got a "second chance" at Royal Antwerp, appointed as technical director for the Belgian club.

The Dutch Sports Tribunal (ISR) ruled Overmars should be prohibited from "exercising any function" with an organisation affiliated with the Dutch FA for two years, one of which was suspended.

But that suspension has now been widened.

The federation said it was obliged "to share this ban with FIFA's disciplinary committee".

"They then decide if this ban must also be imposed globally," the federation told AFP.

"The disciplinary committee decided to widen the ban."

Known for his speed and technical ability, Overmars spent three years with Arsenal, and was a member of Arsene Wenger’s side that won the Premier League and FA Cup titles in 1997/98 season.

In his native Netherlands, he won three Eredivisie titles with Ajax Amsterdam, and was a key part in the team that famously won the Uefa Champions League in 1995.

AFP