Dutch Football League Set To Be First Major Season To Be Cancelled
April 22, 2020
Following the latest guidelines announced by the government in the Netherlands yesterday evening, it appears that the Dutch Eredivisie Football League will be the first to succumb to the coronavirus outbreak and be cancelled.
The Dutch government yesterday said there would be no events until the first of September, with football behind closed doors also being ruled out.
This now leaves a very difficult situation for the league to make, as to whether to void the entire season, end it as it currently stands or pursue other options.
It could also be a key indicator as to what some of the other major European leagues may do if they are forced into the same outcome.
The KNVB today said:
Today was also an important day for professional football, during which the government clarified the current situation resulting from the corona crisis.
That the events requiring a permit remain prohibited until 1 September creates clarity. Until then, no professional football is played, even without an audience. As a result, the board of professional football, which is formally about that, intends not to continue playing the 2019/20 competition. Based on the government’s decision today, the KNVB will consult with UEFA, after which the decision will be taken. On Friday, the clubs and other parties involved will meet to discuss the consequences.
Training complexes
We are also satisfied that the advice from KNVB and NOC * NSF has been adopted to open up top sports facilities, the so-called CTOs and the training complexes of professional football organizations, under strict conditions, so that the professionals can start training again. In addition, it is of course also a good signal that our youngest youth will be able to train and play again, also under certain conditions.
It has been established, also in the discussions about the future of our professional football, as has always been stated from the beginning, that, of course, football will never be played under the flag of the KNVB as long as RIVM and the government do not consider it safe.
Protect industry
That the KNVB has not yet definitively canceled the interrupted competitions, is mainly because the professional football industry has come into financial difficulties due to the corona crisis. Attempts are made to prevent clubs from falling over and the courts from football disappearing. As in other parts of our economy, efforts are being made to protect an industry as much as possible against the financial consequences of the current crisis.
The fact that football cannot be played until September 1 brings enormous challenges in organizational, sports and economic terms. We frequently discuss this with the government, clubs, interest groups and experts. Together we look at the possible next steps for football in the 1.5 meter society. Together we discuss how we can organize football in the further future and how to make corona proof.
Friday
Next Friday, the parties directly involved will be discussed about the further consequences of the intended decision not to finish the competition of the 2019/20 season.
Together we go further, young and old, footballers, referees, trainers, everyone involved in football, to soon, when it is deemed safe by RIVM and the government, to give our honor and first division the trusted, stable place in our society.
