A court in the Netherlands has dismissed NAC Breda's legal challenge over a 6-0 loss to Go Ahead Eagles and upheld the Royal Dutch Football Association's refusal to order a replay. [1]
NAC Breda had argued that defender Dean James was ineligible for the 15 March league match, but the court sided with the KNVB after the governing body said its board had acted properly under the rules. The KNVB said, "It's never pleasant to find ourselves in court against one of our clubs. The court ruled that the league board acted diligently and in accordance with the applicable rules," [1]
James obtained Indonesian citizenship in March 2025 so he could represent Indonesia at international level, a change that triggered the dispute. NAC Breda was contesting the defeat in a season in which it sat 17th in the Eredivisie, six points from safety, with two matches left. [1]
The case also raised concern that more than 130 Eredivisie matches and more than 200 matches across the top two tiers of Dutch football could have faced similar legal challenges. The KNVB said, "NAC Breda raised an important issue, which we were fortunately able to resolve quickly through a great deal of joint effort. That is important for the present and for the future." [1]
The ruling closes NAC Breda's bid for a replay and leaves the club to finish its league campaign with two matches remaining. [1]