Tom Egbers settles with NOS and is allowed to make programs again, no European Football Championship

Egbers was not on TV last year after a publication of de Volkskrant about transgressive behavior at NOS Sport. Now the NOS and Egbers have decided that the presenter will again focus on making narrative programs and documentaries, as he previously did at NTR with programs such as Tom’s England, -Irelandand -Scotland. These programs will be made by outside producers, so that Egbers will not work with the editorial staff of NOS Sport. Egbers will also provide a number of podcasts.

Egbers continues to keep his distance from daily sports news and therefore from the editorial staff. During the hearing last Monday, it turned out that there was still a lot of ‘unrest’ at the NOS offices about a possible return of the presenter. An internal inventory showed that 28 reporters had filed a complaint about Egbers, although it remains unclear what exactly those reports were about.

Egbers’ wish to go to the European Football Championship in Germany this summer will therefore not be fulfilled. However, his contract was extended until after his retirement, so that he can make documentaries in the coming period. He was actually supposed to officially retire in October.

Hand in your own bosom

“After a year in which a lot has been written, talked about and expressed opinions, it is good to get back to work,” says Egbers in the NOS press release. ‘I have constantly reflected on myself in the past year, especially on my own role in the culture of NOS. I find it very sad that there are colleagues who have felt unhappy on the work floor of NOS Sport, in a culture of which I am also a part. I also did not sufficiently realize that in the eyes of younger colleagues I have a position other than just that of ‘a colleague’.’

Last Monday, Egbers was indignant because of NOS’s wish that he should apologize. Because the reports had only been shared with the confidential counselor, he did not know ‘what’ he would have to apologize for. With this open hand in their own bosom, the two parties now seem to have found each other in the middle.

The NOS is also satisfied that an agreement has now been reached with Egbers. ‘I am pleased that NOS and Tom have reached an agreement and have been able to make good agreements about an appropriate continuation that does justice to his long career at the broadcaster. It is now time to get back to work,” said editor-in-chief Gert-Jaap Hoekman of NOS Sport.

From research by de Volkskrant it turned out that NOS Sport had been struggling with a toxic work culture for years. Women and people of color in particular were victims of inappropriate behavior in the workplace. Egbers emerged in the article as one of the misbehaving celebrities.

After breaking off an affair with a younger colleague, Egbers systematically intimidated and bullied her. In the presence of colleagues, the presenter called the woman ‘the axis of evil’, ‘the poison’ and ‘serpent.’ In the Volkskrantarticle, Egbers partly put on the sack. Although he did not recognize himself in the situation described, he said he regretted the affair and regretted involving other colleagues.

The documentaries that Egbers will make will be broadcast in the autumn of 2024 and early 2025.