Arsenal legend Marc Overmars banned from world football for TWO YEARS over ‘inappropriate messages to female colleagues’
ARSENAL legend Marc Overmars has been banned from world football for two years.
That’s after he sent “inappropriate messages to female colleagues” at Ajax.
Overmars, 50, left the Dutch giants in February 2022 following the scandal.
And he was banned from Dutch football for two years, with one suspended, by Fifa in November.
However, Overmars’ suspension has now been extended to a worldwide ban.
A statement read: “Fifa can confirm that following a request by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), the Fifa Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the sanction imposed by KNVB on Mr Marc Overmars to have worldwide effect.”
The new worldwide ban means Overmars will not be able to continue in his current role as technical director of Royal Antwerp.
He joined the Belgians just a month after his Ajax exit.
And Overmars, who won three titles and a Champions League as an Ajax player, will not be able to return to his post for the next 11 months.
The former Arsenal star also suffered a cardiac arrest a year ago, leaving his heart with “irreparable damage.”
Speaking at the time of his resignation from Ajax in February 2022, Overmars said: “I am ashamed.
“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.”
Former Ajax chairman Leen Meijaard noted: “This is a dramatic situation for everyone involved.
“It is devastating for the women who have had to deal with this behaviour. When we heard the news, we immediately acted.
“He has really gone over the line and continuing as director was not an option, as he recognised himself. It is extremely painful for everyone.”
Former Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar added: “I feel responsible to help colleagues.
“A safe sport and working climate is very important. We will pay more attention to this in the future.
“Marc and I have been playing together since the early 1990s and we have been colleagues for almost 10 years now. That has now come to a very abrupt end.”
Overmars joined Arsenal from Ajax in 1997 and went on to score 40 goals in 142 games.
He won a Premier League title and FA Cup before joining Barcelona in 2000.
Overmars featured 141 times for the Spaniards during four seasons and retired in 2004.
He also won 86 caps for Holland, scoring 17 goals in total.
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