Dutch international footballer Jill Roord and her partner, hockey player Pien Sanders, have found themselves at the centre of a social media storm after a candid photoshoot and interview detailing the beginning of their relationship.
A Love Forged in Controversy
The couple, who have been together for nine months, revealed the intimate details of their romance in a feature for the outlet Linda Meiden. The article, published on Tuesday, explains how their connection blossomed while both were in other committed relationships. Roord, the 28-year-old former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder, was in a two-year relationship with Spanish footballer Jana Fernandez. Simultaneously, Sanders, 27, was in a decade-long partnership with fellow hockey player Thijs van Dam.
The accompanying photoshoot showcased their physical chemistry, with several intimate pictures. In one, Sanders is seated on Roord's lap with their heads touching. Another shows Sanders kneeling with her arms wrapped around Roord's legs, where Roord's underwear, visible in the shot, bears the message 'I love my girlfriend', using a heart emoji for the word 'love'.
The Spark That Ignited a Firestorm
According to their account, Sanders first became aware of Roord when a friend showed her a picture of the footballer without Roord's knowledge and suggested she attend one of her matches. After a brief exchange on Instagram, Sanders ended her relationship with Van Dam, citing that she had felt more attracted to women for a while.
During this period, Roord's long-distance relationship with Fernandez was already facing difficulties. Upon hearing that Sanders was single, Roord soon parted ways with Fernandez. Sanders described the initial, screen-based connection to Linda Meiden, saying, "We felt a connection through the screen. I felt bad about myself. I'm incredibly loyal. 'F***', I thought, 'I don't want to feel what I'm feeling inside right now'. I slept poorly because of it."
Public Reaction and Personal Justification
The couple's openness has been met with significant criticism online. One social media user described their actions as 'nasty work', while another questioned their judgement, asking "Please why did Jill Roord and her girlfriend think this is a good idea? They come off as major jerks." A further comment read, "Jill Roord is so shameless why would you openly admit that."
Sanders admitted she can understand the scepticism surrounding the swift start of their relationship. "People respected my struggles: was I gay? For others, it was hard to see that I could instantly fall in love with someone else, and I understand that completely," she added.
Roord defended their decision, stating, "We both made a decision that would come as a shock to others, and we were aware of that. But in the end, you have to live with yourself until you're eighty, and then the most important thing is that you're happy." Both athletes currently play in the Netherlands, with Roord at FC Twente and Sanders at Den Bosch, a journey of just under two hours by car.
