FC Emmen is not allowed to play with the name of EasyToys on the shirt until at least December. Even after a consultation with the club on Tuesday, the KNVB will not withdraw the ban on main sponsor and shirt sponsorship by the sex shop. However, the national football association also reports in a statement that the sponsorship regulations will be re-examined during a meeting with all professional clubs in December.

FC Emmen and the KNVB are still discussing a temporary solution until December. “We experienced this morning that the KNVB has the wish to come out together,” FC Emmen reported in a statement on Tuesday. “That is why we are confident that we can find a solution together with the KNVB.” The multi-year deal with the sex shop would reportedly yield FC Emmen half a million euros a year. That amount can add up every season.

The KNVB banned the deal with the company on Wednesday on the basis of article 3 of the sponsorship regulations of the football association, which states, among other things, that a sponsor must not be in conflict with ‘good taste or decency’. The KNVB will now discuss the relevant article from the sponsorship regulations with all clubs during the General Assembly Paid Football (AVBV) in December.

“We have also received the social debate that has arisen”, says Eric Gudde, director of professional football at the KNVB. “During the meeting we will all talk about which sponsorship expressions we want to permit in professional football. We want to have the regulations as clear as possible and avoid open standards that need to be fleshed out by the board.”

FC Emmen first wants to have the commitments of KNVB on paper during Tuesday’s conversation to discuss this with EasyToys. FC Emmen keeps the route of legal proceedings open. “It goes without saying that we will only agree to a solution that is satisfactory for both EasyToys and FC Emmen”, the club reports. In the first two games in the Eredivisie, coach Dick Lukkien’s team already played without a shirt sponsor in anticipation of a solution.

EasyToys director Eric Idema is disappointed. “We have come to light something, the KNVB does not dare to take any further decisions.” he says in conversation with RTV Drenthe. Idema indicates that his company is not in the sex industry but purely offers facilities. “It is a disappointment and we will look further tomorrow.”

Orders for the new shirts are not available on the FC Emmen website. More than 1,600 orders have now been placed for the shirts. An order can still be placed up to and including Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. The back of the shirt says #Hierkomikweg.