A Dutch court in Utrecht dismissed NAC Breda's bid to replay its 6-0 loss to Go Ahead Eagles on March 15, ruling that the club's challenge over defender Dean James' eligibility failed. The case stemmed from James obtaining Indonesian citizenship in March 2025, which under Dutch rules could reclassify him as a non‑EU player requiring a work permit, and could have reshaped the relegation fight.

The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) had refused the replay, arguing that neither the club nor officials knew the nationality switch would breach registration rules. The court agreed the league board acted diligently, noting that overturning the result could open more than 200 matches across the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie to similar legal scrutiny. The ruling also safeguards the league’s calendar from further disruptions.

NAC Breda sit 17th with six points adrift of safety and only two games left, so the decision leaves their survival hopes unchanged. Avoiding a replay also prevents a cascade of challenges that could have disrupted the schedule and forced the KNVB to revisit player registration protocols across Dutch football significantly.