Jhon van Beukering has been suspended for 30 months by the professional football disciplinary committee following misconduct last month. The former professional player was working as an assistant coach at GVVV during a Tweede Divisie match against IJsselmeervogels. The suspension is in line with the penalty sought by the disciplinary prosecutor.
Quiermo Dumay of IJsselmeervogels was assaulted in the players’ tunnel a month ago, losing seven teeth after being punched, and was unable to play for approximately a month. He returned to the field the week before the disciplinary committee announced its decision.
The club accused 43-year-old Van Beukering of carrying out the attack. Van Beukering acknowledged throwing a punch during the confrontation but said he did not know whom he had hit. The KNVB subsequently investigated the incident before the disciplinary case was heard in Zeist on October 15.
The former Feyenoord, NEC, and Vitesse player was subsequently handed a provisional 60-day suspension by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). GVVV also terminated his employment.
“The standard penalty for this offence is 18 months. However, both the disciplinary prosecutor and the disciplinary committee consider the severity of the injuries to be an important factor, which is why a harsher punishment has been imposed,” the ruling stated.
The incident also brought the match to an abrupt halt. GVVV were leading 2-0 at halftime when the game was abandoned after the confrontation, with IJsselmeervogels’ players unwilling to continue following Dumay’s injury. The teams played the remaining portion on Wednesday, when GVVV completed a 3-0 victory.
GVVV dismissed both Jhon van Beukering and his brother Dennis, who was the team’s head coach, following the incident. However, the KNVB cleared Dennis of involvement in the physical violence.
Van Beukering can still appeal the decision.
