The judge ruled that "NAC’s interests in being allowed to reschedule a match do not automatically outweigh the KNVB’s interests in preventing potentially major problems when the Eredivisie season is concluded," thus following the verdict of the KNVB earlier in the case.
The football association decided not to allow the game to be replayed "in the wider interest of Dutch football," which the judge agreed with.
"It is not unreasonable for the league board to give greater weight to the potentially significant consequences for the league, which is nearing its conclusion, than to NAC’s interest in replaying the match," the judge said.
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133 potential replays
NAC Breda filed a case against the KNVB and Go Ahead Eagles after their 6-0 loss to the Eagles on March 15th. NAC alleged that Go Ahead Eagles player Dean James, who's playing on his Dutch registration, was ineligible to play after forfeiting his Dutch passport upon obtaining Indonesian nationality.
The KNVB announced in early April that it would not discipline Go Ahead Eagles, while confirming that James was ineligible.
NAC Breda demanded the 6-0 loss to be replayed - a demand that could've put the Eredivisie in big trouble, as director Marianne van Leeuwen told ESPN after a preliminary hearing last week. If the court had ruled in favour of NAC Breda, a total of 133 Eredivisie games would've been subject to replays, as Ajax, Feyenoord, Telstar, FC Volendam, and Heracles Almelo had all informed the KNVB of their intention to go to court over similar cases.
NAC Breda did not give a detailed response to Monday's ruling: "An ineligible player took part in that match, after which NAC submitted a request to the national football association to investigate the matter. NAC ultimately sought a judicial review of the league board’s decision not to replay the match against Go Ahead Eagles," the club said in a statement.
"NAC will now first study the judgment and discuss it further with its advisers before making any further announcements."