Controversy over the origin of the romance between two sports stars: "I felt bad about myself"

Jill Roord , a Twente footballer who played for Arsenal, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg, has sparked a scandal in the sporting world by using an intimate photo session with Pien Sanders , an Olympic field hockey player with the Netherlands, to reveal how their relationship came about before they broke up with their ex-partners .

The Dutch athletes have been together for nine months , but have received criticism for how their relationship began: both were in separate relationships when they met .

"Both of us made a decision that would surprise others, and we were aware of that. But in the end, you have to live with yourself until you're 80, and then the most important thing is to be happy," explained Jill Roord.

Roord was in a two-year relationship with a Spanish international footballer, while Sanders was in a 10-year relationship with her then boyfriend, Thijs van Dam , who is also a field hockey player.

Sanders broke up with Van Dam days later, claiming that she felt more attracted to women for a while.

"I felt bad about myself... I'm incredibly loyal. 'Fuck!' I thought, 'I don't want to feel what I feel inside right now.' I slept badly because of it

"Both of us made a decision that would surprise others, and we were aware of that. But in the end, you have to live with yourself until you're 80, and then the most important thing is to be happy," explained Jill Roord.

"Make love, not war"

Roord and Sanders declared their love for each other in an intimate photo session with journalist Linda Meiden entitled "Make love, not war"

This is how the romance between Pien Sanders and Jill Roord was born: "We felt a connection through the screen"

Pien Sanders revealed how they both found a connection by sending each other private messages: "We felt a connection through the screen."

Sanders said that during those flirtations, while dating Van Dam, "I felt bad about myself... I'm incredibly loyal. 'Fuck!' I thought, 'I don't want to feel what I feel inside right now.' I slept badly about it."

In the end, they met in person and started to have a good relationship. After finally meeting and sharing their first kiss, their relationship became more intimate.

Reflecting on her relationship, Pien Sanders admits she understands why there are some skeptics about her new relationship with Jill Roord: "People respected my struggles: was I gay? For others, it was hard to imagine that I could instantly fall in love with someone else, and I completely understand that."