‘I also think something about the Marc Overmars issue’

Nijland speaks out: ‘I also think something about the Marc Overmars issue’

Friday, March 29, 2024 at 4:43 PM

Hans Nijland wants to become chairman of the KNVB. The former general manager of FC Groningen was not concerned with this at all until recently, but the possible appointment of Amsterdam police chief Frank Paauw changed everything. Nijland discusses the latest state of affairs with Voetbal International.

For Nijland, the presidency only really came to life on March 20. “Fabian Nagtzaam called. The chairman of the Ajax supporters’ association. I have a publishing company and thought he might be interested in having the Ajax magazine produced by us. And not to request whether the gathered supporters’ associations could nominate me as a candidate for the KNVB.”

The call to Nijland came because of the situation surrounding Paauw, who was identified as the only candidate by the KNVB selection committee. That was a sore point for many supporters, because Paauw had already suggested that from now on, away fans should be left at home if they misbehaved. “At home I read the job profile carefully and my wife Marieke already noticed that it made my heart beat faster. She said: just do it.”

Overmars

Nijland knows that he will have a lot on his plate if the KNVB actually does business with him. “I also think something about the Marc Overmars issue,” the seasoned director continues his story. “First of all: I am not going to trivialize anything. He was fired from Ajax, dealt with harshly in publicity and suspended in the Netherlands. All rightly so and the victims have also received some satisfaction.”

“What I don’t really understand is that a year later FIFA would get over this with a professional ban for the entire world. Who is FIFA – the organization that awards World Cups to countries where human rights are violated to a very serious extent – to appeal to others about their moral compass?”, Nijland wonders out loud. “Maybe not everyone will agree with me when I say what I think of FIFA.”

Nijland compares the battle for the gavel in Zeist with the ongoing cabinet formation. “Geert Wilders is putting one point after another on hold. Personally, I think it’s great that he has become a lot more moderate, but I can well imagine that his voters think: Where has the real Wilders gone?”

Competitors

Despite his ambitions, the Groningen director takes into account that the KNVB will choose Paauw or Jeanet van der Laan, the second competitor. “I don’t put my head on the chopping block. If the outcome is that football would like to work with Jeanet or Frank, I will be the first to congratulate them on that. Then I am grateful for the expressions of support I have received and I will continue with the beautiful life I have now.”
2024-03-29 15:43:00
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