AMSTERDAM: Ajax have sacked sports director Marc Overmars with immediate effect for “sending inappropriate messages to other colleagues.”

This followed media reports in the Netherlands that he has been sending sexually inappropriate messages to female colleagues.

The former Netherlands, Barcelona and Arsenal winger later issued an apology.

He said: “”Last week I was confronted with reports about my behaviour and how this has come across to others. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise that I was crossing the line but that was made clear to me in recent days.

“I suddenly felt enormous pressure. I apologise. Certainly for someone in my position, this behaviour is unacceptable. Now I realise what I have done but it’s too late.”

Overmars , who played for Ajax between 1992 and 1997 and won the Champions League in 1995 under Louis van Gaal, joined the club management in the summer of 2012 and took over as sporting director in February 2013. He had recently renewed his contract until 2026 .

Club president Leen Meijaard said: “It’s a devastating situation for everyone involved, especially for the women who had to deal with this behaviour.

“It is devastating for the women who have had to deal with the behaviour. When we heard news of this, we immediately acted, carefully deliberating and weighing what was the best thing to do – all in consultation with ceo Edwin van der Sar and assisted by an external expert.

“Marc is probably the best football director that Ajax has had. We upgraded and extended his contract for a reason. But, unfortunately, he has really gone over the line, so continuing as director was not an option.”

Van der Sar, a former teammate, agreed.

He said: “The situation is terrible, I agree with Leen Meijaard’s words. In my position, I feel responsible for helping my teammates.

“Marc and I have played together since the early 1990s, first at Ajax and then with the national team and we’ve been together for almost ten years together on the board. Now it’s avery abrupt end.”

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