07 February 2024 , 13:41
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FIFA has rejected Marc Overmars' appeal against his ban from football.
Former Arsenal winger Overmars was prevented from holding any position in football after sending 'inappropriate messages' to female colleagues while working as Ajax's director of football. He was banned for two years by the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) before FIFA stepped in to increase his punishment.
Overmars accepted responsibility for his "unacceptable" behaviour, which involved messages and photographs, and quit his job at Ajax in February 2022, but landed on his feet across the border in Belgium, taking the role of Royal Antwerp's director of football in March. However, FIFA took over jurisdiction late last year and extended his ban in January.
The 50-year-old appealed the decision, believing it to be disproportionate, but has now discovered that this has been rejected by the world football governing body. It means he will not be allowed to hold any position in the sport until November 2024.
"We have received a two-sentence message. The first sentence states that the appeal has been rejected, the second sentence states that the costs incurred will be borne by Mr Overmars," said his representative Frank Neervoort.
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Neervoort told the NOS that he and his client would wait for FIFA's explanation before deciding whether to escalate their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Overmars worked for nine and a half years as Ajax's director of football before the scandal forced his departure.
"I am ashamed," he wrote in his departing statement. "Certainly for someone in my position, this behaviour is unacceptable. I now see that but it is too late. I see no other option but to leave Ajax."
Marc Overmars sent 'inappropriate messages' to female colleagues at Ajax (Isosport/MB Media/Getty Images)He later explained to the NOS: "I have been suspended because I sent cross-border messages to one female colleague. The fact that the app traffic was mutual does not change the fact that I should never have done that. It was stupid. And I feel very sorry for my wife Chantal, my two children and my family who have gone through a terrible time because of my mistake."
Overmars made 192 appearances for Ajax between 1992 and 1997, helping the Dutch giants to win three league titles, the Dutch Cup and the Champions League. He joined Arsenal in the summer of 1997 and played 141 times for Arsene Wenger's side, winning the Premier League and FA Cup.
He spent four years with Barcelona before finishing his playing career with boyhood club Go Ahead Eagles in 2009. Overmars did some coaching with Ajax and then took over as the Amsterdam club’s director of football in 2012.