Ajax Amsterdam: Scandal surrounding Marc Overmars getting worse
Marc Overmar’s Ajax Eredivisie
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Marc Overmars caused a sexism scandal at Ajax Amsterdam. More startling details are now coming to light.
The sexism scandal at Ajax Amsterdam surrounding the resigning sports director Marc Overmars is still taking on less appetizing proportions. New details have now come to light.
“Sexism is part of the club’s culture,” said one of eleven Ajax employees who were interviewed but not named NRC Handelsblad. Accordingly, not only did Overmars make blatant misconduct in the club.
The newspaper, which has been researching the incidents at the top Dutch club since December, refers in the most recent publications to WhatsApp chat histories, among other things. For example, an employee was secretly photographed and then judged by men in a chat.
Overmars was known within the club as a “horny cousin”. The 48-year-old, who was forced to leave Ajax for sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues, reportedly sent pictures of his genitals to several women at the club. Among other things, from a toilet on the club premises.
The employees surveyed reported a “cock culture” at Ajax. In addition to Overmars, other employees have often made inappropriate and unacceptable statements to the women in the club. However, this was always without consequences. An unnamed player is said to be involved in the scandal.
“At Ajax, as a woman, you have to have a very thick skin. If you don’t have it, you quickly come under pressure,” said one of the women: “It’s an enormous power relationship.” Anyone who does not accept this will very quickly lose their job.
Overmars is apparently threatened with a lifelong professional ban
According to De Telegraaf Overmars is now threatened with a lifelong professional ban in the Netherlands. The apology in the course of his resignation is unlikely to help him much. “I’m ashamed. My behavior is certainly unacceptable for someone in my position. Unfortunately, I didn’t understand that I was crossing a line with that. That was made clear to me in the past few days,” said Overmars.
Ajax managing director Edwin van der Sar has now announced that he wants to offer women at Ajax secure jobs in the future.
“It’s just catastrophic, especially for the victims and especially for the women and their suffering,” Ajax coach Erik ten Hag said ESPN: “I was completely surprised when I found out about it. That’s why it hits me so hard.”