Two members of the Dutch women's soccer team have been removed from the squad by their coach in what some say may have been an act of homophobia.

Defenders on the Dutch national soccer team, Claudia van den Heiligenberg and Dyanne Bito are in a relationship together. After the team was unable to clinch this year's Euro Cup in September, coach Vera Pauw released the players because their relationship was distracting to the team, according to reports.

While she will not expand on the decision to oust the players, coach Pauw said it was due to "personal circumstances" that Van den Heiligenberg and Bito were removed from the team.

The women may have the opportunity to play for the team in the future, but the team's next game won't be until March.