Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder 'interrogated' as witnesses in drug case investigation

Former Netherlands international footballers Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder have been 'interrogated' by Dutch police as witnesses in a drug case investigation, according to reports from their home country.

The pair are reportedly among a number of footballers quizzed in relation to a gambling site, which authorities claim may have ties to an alleged 'godfather' known as Piet S.

Kuyt and Sneijder were both part of the Dutch team which reached the World Cup final in 2010, with the former also playing more than 200 times in the Premier League for Liverpool.

And reports from outlets in the Netherlands make reference to interviews which reportedly took place earlier in 2021, with the ex-players alleged to have spoken to police in a witness capacity.

According to Nos.nl, citing reports from De Telegraaf and AD, the investigation relates to an alleged illegal gambling site which the Public Prosecution Service says was set up by the son of Piet S.

The two footballers reportedly gambled on the site in question, and the reports from the Netherlands mention conversations with authorities in relation to this.

Sneijder spoke to police to give his witness statement in January this year, with Kuyt meeting with authorities the following month.

The gambling site in question, Edobet, was reportedly licensed in Curacao and offered casino games as well as sports betting.

According to De Telegraaf, "Several (former) professional football players" have been interviewed in relation to the case, which comes more than a year after the arrest of Piet S. as what Nos.nl describes as part of "an investigation into international drug trafficking at home and abroad".

"S. has never been convicted of large-scale drug trafficking or liquidations, with which he has also been associated," the publication notes.

Reports into the case cite a hack of messaging service Encrochat, through which conversations involving the alleged betting activity of Kuyt and Sneijder have been made public.

Sneijder denies having played on the gambling site in question, according to reports, but according to AD's report, the player was approached by people "who said he was in debt and that he would guarantee Wout van K," an individual who has been identified by the ex-player as "my father's cousin, seen once".

Sneijder's agent Guido Albers confirmed the investigation was "about gambling" but said "Wesley is not involved".