Ajax coach Maurice Steijn: ‘The rectification Mr Van Hooijdonk has made is completely justified’ | Dutch football

“Last Sunday evening, during a broadcast of Studio Voetbal, I was falsely accused by Mr Van Hooijdonk”, says Steijn in a short response, which was distributed by his lawyer Jan Kabalt. “With his transgressive behavior he not only damaged me, but also my family. The rectification that Mr Van Hooijdonk has made is therefore completely justified.”

Steijn filed summary proceedings against Van Hooijdonk on Wednesday afternoon because the former football player had not yet met his requirements. The former football player was a regular table guest in the NOS program Studio Football on Sunday. He accused Steijn of ‘involvement in shady deals with befriended agents’. According to Van Hooijdonk, this happened when Steijn was a trainer of NAC Breda in the 2020-2021 season.

Steijn demanded that Van Hooijdonk rectify his statements and gave him until Wednesday afternoon. He opted for summary proceedings when the former international had not made any statements before the deadline.

But then Van Hooijdonk still reacted. “Last Sunday I said during the broadcast that Steijn would have been involved in shady deals with brokers,” he said via the NOS site. “I have this comment the heat of the moment made, in a discussion with table guests. I have no evidence for my comment and therefore I should not have made that comment. I hereby take back what I said about Maurice and apologize to him. When the dust has settled, I will contact Maurice to discuss what is going on between us.”

Ajax indicated that it supports the trainer in the matter. “In addition to my family and friends, I want to thank everyone for the support I have received, in particular that from Ajax,” Steijn responded in the statement on Friday.