this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Lovely club arent they?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I translated it with chatGPT:

Shortly after the departure of Director of Football Affairs Marc Overmars from Ajax in February 2022 due to sexually inappropriate behavior towards female colleagues, discussions were held with him about a possible return to the club. Former president-commissioner Leen Meijaard advised Overmars to first improve his life and undergo therapy. If he remained under the radar for six months and apologized again for his behavior, a return was possible.

This information is revealed in the book "Ajax in Crisis" by journalist Menno de Galan, scheduled for release this Thursday. Meijaard, the former chairman of the supervisory board until March of this year, confirms the essence of the story to NRC. However, he denies that a six-month period was discussed. This news comes shortly before a verdict in the disciplinary case by the Institute of Sports Jurisprudence concerning the now 50-year-old Overmars. The verdict is expected within a few weeks.

After the advice, Overmars entered therapy but discontinued it after only two sessions, stating that it was "not for him," as mentioned in the book. Six weeks after leaving Ajax, he was introduced as the new technical director of Royal Antwerp FC. This surprisingly swift move is described by De Galan as "a blow to the face" of the Ajax management and is seen as a "kick in the teeth" to the female colleagues. As a result, contact with Overmars is "definitively severed."

Dickpics: Overmars left because of sending "crossing boundaries messages to multiple female colleagues," as stated by Ajax in early February 2022. NRC's investigation revealed sexually suggestive text messages and explicit pictures. "Unfortunately, he did cross boundaries, so continuing as a director was not an option, he realized that himself," said Meijaard in Ajax's press release. "I apologize," said Overmars.

However, in the weeks following, as Meijaard and Overmars discussed the resolution of certain matters, Overmars inquired about the possibility of a future return, according to "Ajax in Crisis." Meijaard does not rule it out, provided that Overmars remains invisible for a while and works on improving his behavior. Former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag expresses hope internally, and later in an interview with Het Parool, that Overmars can come back.

Although the scenario for a return was discussed between Meijaard and Overmars, it does not represent the position of the club leadership. A potential comeback was not discussed in the board of directors at that time, according to a source at the top of Ajax speaking to NRC.

Dispute among commissioners: Meijaard kept this option within a small circle, leading to friction among the commissioners in the Overmars case. Two supervisory board members, the now-departed Peter Mensing and Ernst Ligthart, felt "left out" by Meijaard because they were informed about Overmars' inappropriate behavior only shortly before his departure, as revealed in the book.

Critical in this conflict is that nine days before Overmars' departure, his reappointment is confirmed during a shareholders' meeting – including a signing bonus of 1.25 million euros. At that time, Meijaard and then-general director Edwin van der Sar are aware of only one complaint of sexually inappropriate behavior by a female colleague. On the day of the shareholders' meeting (January 28, 2022), they order an investigation into Overmars.

During that meeting, the Director of Football Affairs is still praised for his professionalism in a speech by Mensing, who, like Ligthart, is unaware of the investigation. This leads to a crisis meeting in which the two supervisory board members accuse their chairman Meijaard of acting "solo." In turn, Meijaard defends himself by stating that at that moment, there was only one complaint, and no hearing had taken place yet – Overmars could be unjustly "damaged." The dispute among the commissioners intensifies, nearly resulting in Meijaard's premature departure.

NRC sent Overmars a list of questions through his club Royal Antwerp FC on Tuesday, but he did not respond.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

i dont know if my mental image of ajax as a model cub was predicated on bullshit but it sure as hell is out the window over the last year plus good lord

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

First job will be to sign Greenwood

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

At least he'd force himself onto the starting XI

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Don't see anything wrong with that. If he had actually done something to improve himself then there should be a way back.