Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar has confirmed the club were aware of sexting allegations against Marc Overmars prior to handing him a new contract.
Overmars could be banned from Dutch football for life over the sexting scandal that forced his resignation from Ajax earlier this month.
The 48-year-old former Arsenal winger stepped down as director of football at the Amsterdam club after admitting he had sent obscene messages and pictures to female employees.
Overmars resigned last week after the Ajax board received several complaints from female employees claming that he had sent them inappropriate texts and sexually explicit photographs.
The former Dutch international’s behaviour contravenes strict Dutch FA’s regulations regarding integrity – meaning that his career in the sport in his home nation may be over.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper van der Sar has now confirmed that the Dutch giants were aware of allegations against Overmars prior to handing him a new contract.
Van der Sar added that the club had ‘received signals’ but it was their duty to fully investigate them first before looking to take action.
Van der Sar has said: “We received signals just before that. Our supervisory board was also informed.
“But you must first investigate such things extensively.”
Overmars released a statement of remorse after his exit from Ajax earlier this month.
The former winger said: "I am ashamed. Last week I was confronted with reports about my behaviour and how this has come across to others.
“Unfortunately, I did not realise that I had crossed boundaries with this, but that became clear to me these days. I suddenly felt an enormous pressure.
“I offer my apologies. Especially for someone in my position, this behaviour cannot be justified.
“I see that now, but it’s too late. I see no other option than to stop at Ajax.
“This also has a major impact on my private situation. That's why I ask everyone to leave me and my family alone.”
Overmars had a storied playing career that saw him star for Ajax and Barcelona either side of a successful three-year spell with Arsenal that saw him help Arsene Wenger ’s team win a Premier League and FA Cup Double in 1998.
Since returning to Ajax in an executive role, the club have won four Eredivisie titles as well as two Dutch Cups.
They currently lead the table by five points and are through to the last 16 of the Champions League, where they will meet Benfica.
The club famously reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and were one minute away from reaching the final before a late Lucas Moura winner for Tottenham.
That year, the Amsterdam giants eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus before falling just short in the final four – the first time they had reached the competition’s knockout stages since 2004.
