Television football pundit Johan Derksen will not not face any charges in connection with a claim he made live on air about penetrating an unconscious woman with a candle.

The public prosecution department launched the investigation after Derksen’s anecdote, which he later partially retracted, saying he had only placed the candle between her legs.

The department said in a short statement that it had questioned Derksen but that the case would be dismissed because the facts could not be established. The possible victim was not questioned because she had not been identified.

The department said it had decided to launch the probe, partly in response to the public outcry and partly because of the negative impact the story had on the victims of sexual violence.

The uproar led to the show Vandaag Inside being taken off air for three weeks. Although Derksen originally said he was quitting altogether, television company Talpa confirmed later that the show would resume, which it did on May 13.