Tom Beugelsdijk had filed a lawsuit against Albert Heijn for what he considered to be improper use of his image in advertisements for saving campaigns for football pictures. However, the judge did not find that the supermarket chain had acted incorrectly. Beugelsdijk does not, however, give the whole matter a bad aftertaste. “No, dude. We’re just going to play football again.”

Beugelsdijk brought the lawsuit more than two years ago, in consultation with the VVCS players’ union. The Sparta mandekker suddenly saw his image in large format in stores of Albert Heijn at the time and the ex-player of ADO Den Haag was of the opinion that this violated his postage rights. However, it did not earn him a victory in court. In fact, the 720 euros in litigation costs are borne by Beugelsdijk.

“For me it was purely about the principle”, Beugelsdijk explains in conversation with it on Friday afternoon Algemeen Dagblad. “I had not given permission for anything, but I always saw myself in that store. Not just on such a small football picture, but even on those life-size pictures. I thought that was strange.” Nevertheless, the center-back can do little about it legally. “Anyway, the judge is in a different position. Fine further. We will just play football again. After today there is a line for me.”

Despite the lost lawsuit, Beugelsdijk does not permanently ban Albert Heijn. “Of course they still see me at the Appie, dude. I will have to go shopping, won’t I?”, The Sparta stopper concludes with a joke. Beugelsdijk is currently preparing with Sparta for the home game against sc Heerenveen on Sunday afternoon.