Following an official statement from prime minister Matt of the Netherlands, Matt Rutte stating that all football matches are forbidden in the country until September 1, hence, the Eredivisie have yesterday come to the decision to cancel the season and no champion will be crowned.
Ajax sits at the top of the log ahead of AZ Alkmaar just on goal difference, and the Federation deem it unjust to award the title to anyone because the gap is too tight. Consequently, this season becomes the first time that a champion will not be crowned in the Dutch topflight since it was founded in 1956.
The decision by UEFA asking the Federation to utilize the current table standing means Ajax will automatically qualify for the Champions League while second place AZ will enter in the second round of the qualifiers.
The big winners of the decisions were ADO Den Haag and RKC Waalwijk who will both remain in the league next season as no team will be relegated. Willem II also secured a Europa League spot ahead of FC Utrecht who have a game in hand with better goal difference but missed out because the game will not be played.
FC Utrecht were joined by Cambuur and De Graafschap on the unlucky list as both teams look to be on course for promotion to the topflight. Hence, it is predicted that protests will be held in the coming days as Cambuur head coach feels they were been treated unjustly.
Jan de Jonge told NOS: “This feels like the biggest disgrace in the history of Dutch sports. I always intend to see the best in people and their choice-making, but this is unworthy to the sport.
“We had UEFA on our side, the clubs were on our side and we were eleven points ahead, so I don’t know what happened. The UEFA asked for fair decisions, but this isn’t one.”
The club director Ard de Graaf also added that it’s too soon to conclude on the steps the club will take.
He was reported to have said: “We will investigate our options. I just don’t get it. Why didn’t they follow the rules for both tiers?
“This is a major blow for us. The difference between playing in the first or the second tier is huge. The first tier gets way more money and we are working on a new stadium and build our strategies around it. Now this is been taken away from us and that feels like injustice.”
It is expected that the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) report their decision to UEFA for approval before the 25 of next month, where it will be reviewed and sanctioned.
By: AFOLABI KEHINDE HASSAN
