Dutch federation avoids ‘chaos’ by winning dual-nationality case

The KNVB had warned that it might have to replay 133 matches if NAC Breda had won their case, heard in an Utrecht court, against the federation over the eligibility of certain Dutch players who had switched international allegiance.

The Netherlands does not allow dual nationality outside of the European Union, and several players unwittingly gave up their Dutch nationality by opting to play for other countries, notably former colonies Indonesia, Suriname and Curacao.

Relegation-threatened Breda brought a case against the federation over a match they lost 6-0 in March to Go Ahead Eagles, who fielded Dean James, a defender born in the Netherlands but who switched international allegiance to Indonesia in March 2025.

That meant that he automatically gave up his Dutch nationality and needed a work permit to play and train in the Netherlands, which he did not have at the time.

The KNVB had warned last week of potential “chaos” if it lost the case, with the possibility that it could not finish the championship.

“NAC’s interests in being allowed to replay a match do not automatically outweigh the KNVB’s interests in preventing potentially major problems when completing the Eredivisie competition,” the Utrecht judge said in a ruling.

Had Breda won its case to replay the match, several other clubs could also have asked for the same outcome.

That could have meant up to 133 matches, according to the KNVB, being replayed across the top two men’s divisions and the women’s championship.

The KNVB said that would be impossible to organise.