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Ajax Shares Fall as Director Overmars Leaves Club Over Inappropriate Messages

Ajax Shares Fall as Director Overmars Leaves Club Over Messages

AFC Ajax N.V. announced that Director of Football Affairs Marc Overmars would leave after discussions about inappropriate messages sent to several female staff members.

Overmars, who has been in his position since 2012, said that he was confronted last week with reports about his behavior and once he realized he had crossed a line he “suddenly felt an enormous pressure”. 

“For someone in my position, this behavior is unacceptable,” the 48-year-old said, offering his apologies in a statement posted on Ajax’ website on Sunday. “A series of inappropriate messages sent to several female colleagues over an extended period of time underlies his decision to leave the club,” Ajax said in the statement. 

General manager Edwin van der Sar said the situation was “appalling” for everyone involved and stressed the importance of a safe working climate. 

“When we heard news of this, we immediately acted,” Supervisory Board Chairman Leen Meijaard said. “Marc is probably the best football director that Ajax has had,” Meijaard said, “but, unfortunately, he has really gone over the line.” He added that the decision on the departure was made in consultation with Van der Sar and an external expert. 

Ajax Shares Fall as Director Overmars Leaves Club Over Inappropriate Messages
Ajax Shares Fall as Director Overmars Leaves Club Over Inappropriate Messages

Overmars was a well-known player in the nineties and early 2000s, with stints at Ajax, Barcelona and London’s Arsenal.

Ajax stock fell as much as 5.6% in early trading, the most since June last year, before trimming the decline. The shares are at their lowest level since May 2020, having failed to recover from a pandemic-driven slump after the virus caused a slide in ticket sales.

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