Dutch Football in Crisis: Sports Passport Issue Escalates
Dutch football clubs face sanctions over naturalized Indonesian and Surinamese players. KNVB investigates eligibility of Indonesian and Surinamese players, sparking fears of match replays and penalties for Dutch clubs.
NAC Breda's appeal over Go Ahead Eagles' Indonesian defender sparks wider debate on sports passports and player eligibility...
The Dutch football world is facing a crisis due to a “sports passport” issue. Clubs are hesitant to field naturalized Indonesian and Surinamese players, fearing sanctions from the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association). This crisis began when NAC Breda appealed to the KNVB, alleging that Go Ahead Eagles fielded an ineligible player, Dean James, who acquired Indonesian nationality in March 2025.
The problem arises from Dutch law, which states that acquiring another nationality means losing Dutch citizenship, making these players non-EU citizens. This classification requires clubs to pay a minimum annual wage of €600,000, a sum many clubs can't or won't pay. Players like Dean James and Tim Geypens are caught in the middle, with their careers potentially impacted by the KNVB's investigation ¹.
The KNVB is exploring solutions, including amending Dutch law to exempt athletes from losing their citizenship if they play for another country. Other options include players relinquishing their new citizenship or clubs treating them as non-EU citizens, but these aren't feasible short-term.
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NAC Breda Appeal Go Ahead Eagles' Win Over Ineligible Player Claim
NAC Breda alleges Dean James was ineligible due to acquiring Indonesian nationality, potentially making him a non-EU player. The KNVB is investigating, and a decision could impact Go Ahead Eagles' standings.
TOP Oss followed NAC Breda's lead, lodging an appeal with the KNVB last Tuesday over their 3-1 loss to Willem II, questioning the eligibility of Willem II defender Nathan Tjoe-A-On, who switched to Indonesian citizenship in 2024.
The issue stems from Dutch law, which doesn't permit dual citizenship, meaning players like James and Tjoe-A-On might be considered non-EU citizens, requiring work permits and specific regulations.
NAC Breda's complaint alleges Dean James is playing under an Indonesian passport without necessary permits, prompting their appeal for a replay.
As in the Netherlands, Indonesia generally does not allow dual citizenship, creating a complex situation for players like Dean James and Nathan Tjoe-A-On.
Dutch clubs are required to pay a player from a country outside of the European Union at least €600,000 in annual wages - a sum many Dutch clubs can't or don't want to pay, making the eligibility issue a significant concern.
Go Ahead Eagles director Jan Willem van Dop issued a statement following NAC Breda's allegations, stating that James “signed an employment contract in 2023, presenting a valid Dutch passport” and that the KNVB is now handling the case.
KNVB Likely to Back NAC's Appeal, Spiking Dutch Clubs' Plans
Clubs are anxious about potential repercussions, with some players possibly being ineligible due to the sports passport issue. The KNVB's decision could impact upcoming matches and the league standings.
The KNVB is expanding its investigation into the eligibility of players with Indonesian nationality, and will now also examine Surinamese internationals and other 'sports passports', including those from Cape Verde, amid the fallout from NAC Breda's appeal.
FC Emmen has benched their Dutch-Indonesian player Tim Geypens, who switched to Indonesian nationality in 2024, due to fears of penalties or a points deduction. Manager Menno van Dam confirmed to ESPN that Geypens was left out of the squad until the situation is clarified, and he won't play again until then. Geypens had been a regular for Emmen this season, appearing in every game.
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| FC Emmen midfielder Tim Geypens remains sidelined due to unresolved passport issues | Pro Shots Photo Agency / Sipa USA / |
Nico Haak, technical director of FC Emmen, expressed his sympathy for Geypen: “This is completely against his will, his knowledge and his fault. We are dealing here with a talented twenty-year-old who is seeing his whole life fall apart. That is an incredibly distressing situation.”
Daniel Beukers, Geypen's teammate and close friend, feels for the 20-year-old midfielder. “It’s not nice to see your mate like this. It’s awful what’s happening to him, just when we’ve finally found our favourite spot here. We’re all feeling for him.”
Affected players are facing a worst-case scenario where they could be sidelined from the Eredivisie for several weeks, according to discussions with the players.
Expert Says Dutch Law Supports KNVB's Stance on Player Eligibility
Tesseltje de Lange, a professor of sociology of law and migration law at Radboud Universiteit, suggests one possible solution: amending Dutch law to exempt athletes from losing their citizenship if they play for another country. This could address the issue, but it's a complex process. Other options, like players relinquishing their new citizenship or clubs treating them as non-EU citizens, aren't feasible short-term. The KNVB is exploring these possibilities to resolve the crisis.
“If they are still playing for a Dutch club, this constitutes illegal employment. Those clubs could be fined by the labour inspectorate for this,” De Lange said.
In some cases, like Tjaronn Chery's, who switched to Indonesian nationality in 2021, De Lange says that the letter of the law and its execution can be two different things: “There is a reporting obligation, and if you don’t comply with it, the information won’t be updated in the systems.”
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| Suriname have called up eight Netherlands-based players in their 26-man squad | Marvin RECINOS / AFP / AFP / Profimedia |
Suriname's 26-man squad, featuring 25 Dutch-Surinamese players, is in turmoil ahead of their World Cup play-off against Bolivia in Mexico. The team, managed by Henk ten Cate, is dealing with eligibility issues due to the Dutch “sports passport” crisis, with some players reevaluating their passports.
The controversy stems from the Netherlands' strict laws on dual citizenship, which could impact players' eligibility. Suriname's squad includes several former Dutch junior internationals, and the team sees this as a chance to make history, with ten Cate stating, “Suriname at the World Cup... it would be a dream come true.”
“What’s more, it’s a fact that both the Labour Inspectorate and the IND (the immigration and naturalisation service) are severely overburdened and understaffed. I can imagine that these agencies have other priorities. Perhaps at the IND they think, ‘Let those lads get on with it; we’re busy with asylum seekers'.”
De Lange outlines three possible solutions for the sports passport issue, but two aren't feasible short-term: players giving up their new citizenship or clubs treating them as non-EU citizens, requiring a €600,000 salary.
The third option is her favourite: “It would be good if the Netherlands amended the law and made an exception for this category of athletes, so that they do not lose their Dutch passports if they start playing for another country. We are waiting for a minister or MP to propose amending the law to sort this out.”
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