Bad suspicion

Insider trading? Ajax suspends the club boss

They have to go through and endure a lot at the moment - the fans of Ajax Amsterdam ...(Bild: Associated Press)

Ajax Amsterdam is not coming to rest: After the scandalous departure of sports director Marc Overmars at the end of 2022 and the sporting decline including numerous coaching changes, a criminal case is now brewing around the Dutch record champions! As Ajax announced on Tuesday, club boss Alex Kroes, who has only been in charge since August 2023, has been suspended due to serious suspicions. It's about insider trading ... 

Specifically, Kroes, who succeeded club legend Edwin van der Sar as CEO, had bought over 17,000 shares in Ajax a week before announcing his appointment at the Amsterdam club. According to a legal opinion commissioned by Ajax's supervisory board, this constitutes insider trading - and "insider trading is a criminal offense", the club states on its website.

"Extremely damaging for the club and everyone who cares about it!"
"We are deeply shocked that something like this could happen at Ajax, as it is extremely damaging for the club and everyone who cares about it. Alex Kroes' actions are not in line with what Ajax stands for," said Michael van Praag, chairman of the club's supervisory board.

Kroes is in any case untenable in the position of board member and, apart from the suspension, the intention is to terminate the cooperation with the 49-year-old for good. To this end, an extraordinary general meeting will be convened shortly to hear the shareholders about the intended dismissal, as stipulated in the club's articles of association. Only then can the dismissal of Kroes be finalized ...