The Dutch FA (KNVB) has given permission for one female player – 19-year-old Ellen Fokkema – to join fourth-tier men’s side VV Foarut for the 2020-21 season.
Mixed football is allowed in the Netherlands up to U-19 level but based on the results of this pilot scheme, the KNVB will evaluate whether there is a good basis for allowing women and men to play in category A, and to permanently amend the regulations.
Fokkema’s choice otherwise at age 19 would have been to play for her club’s category B men’s side, or move to a women’s team.
“It’s fantastic that I can continue to play in this team,” Fokkema told knvb.nl.
“I’ve been playing with these guys since I was five and I was sorry that I wouldn’t be able to play with them in a team next year. From the KNVB I was always advised to continue playing with the boys for as long as possible, so why shouldn’t it be possible? It is quite a challenge, but that only excites me more. I asked the club if something was possible and together we submitted the request to the KNVB. My teammates also reacted enthusiastically that I can stay with them. I dare not say how it will go, but I am very happy anyway that I can participate in this pilot. ”
VV Foarut’s Ellen Fokkema becomes first woman to play in men’s top amateur team. KNVB will use this as pilot to see if mixed gender amateur teams are viable. https://t.co/EC9QxO750N pic.twitter.com/WONFeWk7cF
— r_eredivisie (@REredivisie) August 4, 2020
“Every year there is a request from an association to let a woman play football in their first men’s team,” said Art Langeler, director of football development at the KNVB.
“In my opinion it is special that girls at all levels can play mixed football, but as soon as boys move on from under 19 to category A of the men, they have to play football without the woman in their team. The KNVB stands for diversity and equality. We believe that there should be room for everyone in every way. Moreover, in these cases there is a nice sporting challenge that we do not want to block. That is why we are starting this pilot. Experience will tell if and how it works. We will monitor how things are going in close consultation with the club. Based on that, we could apply a change of regulation. ”
