Dutch FA Turns Down NAC Bredas Protest Go Ahead Eagles and James Avoid Sanctions in Passport Affair

After suffering a 6-0 loss NAC Breda submitted a formal protest to the KNVB asserting that Go Ahead Eagles defender Dean James lacked eligibility. The team contended that James competed under a Dutch registration tied to a passport he surrendered following his adoption of Indonesian citizenship.

James altered his citizenship status in March 2025 aiming to represent Indonesia at international level where he has featured in 5 matches. The defender sat out Go Ahead Eagles encounter with PEC Zwolle as a precaution against possible repercussions.

NACs challenge created ripples across Dutch football leading various teams to bench players amid concerns over penalties and monetary penalties.

READ MORE: Unpacking the Dutch sports passport dilemma: Roots challenges and remedies

During Wednesday the KNVB revealed that Go Ahead Eagles faces no repercussions as the individual and the team had no knowledge of the inherent outcomes from switching to a non Dutch citizenship. Moreover it emerged that the implications of such a switch remained obscure within elite football circles according to the official release.

While confirming James ineligibility the KNVB refrained from specifying if the Go Ahead Eagles versus NAC Breda fixture requires a rematch as sought by NAC in their submission.

NAC issued a public note expressing anticipation for the conclusive verdict.