‘Does not fit our values’

“The way Frans has acted does not fit the norms and values of FC Utrecht, where a safe working environment is paramount.” So says FC Utrecht’s supervisory board following the owner’s dressing room visit Saturday night after the defeat against Go Ahead Eagles (1-2).

During that visit it also came to a scuffle with player Sean Klaiber. Van Seumeren apologized to the staff and players on Sunday. The action has no consequences for Van Seumeren; he will continue to serve on the Utrecht club’s rvc.

Salient detail: trainer Henk Fraser left Utrecht this season after a scuffle with player Amin Younes.

Van Seumeren has owned the Utrecht professional football club since 2008. Since then, he has invested some forty million euros in the club.

FC Utrecht suffered its third defeat in a row at home on Saturday night: after the disgraceful cup defeat against the amateurs of Spakenburg (1-4), defeats against Fortuna Sittard (1-2) and Go Ahead Eagles (1-2) followed.

Pieter Leyssius, chairman of the rvc: “Frans has been a very involved shareholder for 15 years, who has meant and still means a lot to the club, but in his emotion he went too far last Saturday.”

About the incident, the full rvc has spoken carefully in recent days. “Frans is sorry and has assured us as rvc, but also the entire club, that this will never happen again. The rvc is convinced that after the talks with Frans, the frameworks, responsibilities and rules that apply to rvc members will be properly observed.”