A court in the Netherlands has rejected NAC Breda’s legal challenge to replay a league match, which was contested over the ineligibility of an opposing player. This ruling prevents the review of over 130 Eredivisie matches.
NAC disputed their 6-0 loss to Go Ahead Eagles on March 15, arguing that defender Dean James was ineligible to participate following his acquisition of Indonesian citizenship in March 2025, intended for international competition.
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In the Netherlands, dual citizenship is limited, meaning players who were previously registered as Dutch nationals can become classified as non-EU foreign players when they change their nationality. This would necessitate obtaining a work permit before they can continue their professional careers.
On Monday, a court in Utrecht ruled in favor of the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), which had declined to sanction a replay of the match.
The KNVB contended that while James was technically ineligible, neither the club nor the governing bodies were aware of the consequences associated with his nationality change.
If the ruling had favored NAC, the KNVB indicated that more than 200 matches in the top two divisions of Dutch football could have faced similar legal challenges, including 133 in the Eredivisie.
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“It’s never pleasant to confront one of our clubs in court. The court determined that the league board acted with diligence and in line with the applicable regulations,” the KNVB stated to Reuters.
“NAC Breda raised an important concern, which we fortunately resolved quickly through significant collaborative effort. This is vital for both the present and the future.”
NAC Breda currently sits 17th in the Eredivisie, six points away from safety with two matches left to play.