Recently a board member of the KNBSB, involved with umpires and officials, has sent a letter to the officials/umpires in the Netherlands in which he told that it is forbidden to participate in Euro League Baseball games as an umpire by means of the threat of severe consequences, both nationally as internationally. The latter because the ELB is not recognized by the CEB (European Baseball Federation) and the WBSC (World Baseball and Softball Confederation), neither is it recognized by the KNBSB. The ban itself was implied before, as part of the conditions that the ELB could continue with its adventure.
Reason for this letter was an alleged person from the ELB, who would have been recruiting umpires to call games in the ELB.
It appears that the alleged person, who is named in the letter, has made a remark to Hoofdklasse umpires like: “Would calling a game in the ELB be something for you?”, merely an informal remark than active recruiting. The ELB has answered to the KNBSB by denying that they know this person, or that he is working for the ELB.
Even if the Dutch umpires will not be allowed to participate (which remains to be seen), there are enough former umpires that have no ties with the KNBSB anymore, who have offered to call games.
Regarding the prohibition by the KNBSB, several umpires have made clear that they do not agree with the implied ban. So perhaps, a reversal of this ban may be expected soon, even though several umpires don’t think that that will happen.
Fact is that the aforementioned board member of the KNBSB has not checked if the aforementioned person has ties with the ELB and he has sent a letter to the Dutch officials based on a (let’s say) misunderstanding.
Dutch Baseball Hangout 