Eredivisie Agree To Cancel The Season With No Champion And No Relegation

The Dutch Eredivisie has been scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic and there will no champion crowned, as well as no team relegated.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte made the decision to ban professional football in the country until September due to the current worldwide outbreak.

Both Ajax and AZ Alkmaar were level on points at the top of the table, but neither side will be crowned champions.

Cambuur, who were 11 points clear at the top of the second tier, will not be promoted to the division as no sides will be relegated from the top flight.

It's the first time in the league's 64 year history that the season will end with no designated champion.

The decision was made on Friday after all clubs were given a vote to decide the outcome of the season.

16 sides chose for promotion and relegation to be allowed between the first and second division.

However, nine clubs voted against the decision while another refused to vote, explaining the Dutch FA should decide.

PA

The Royal Netherlands Football Association [KNVB] opted to ensure that clubs will remain in their current divisions for when football eventually returns.

Protests are expected in the coming days as a result of the decision as second division sides are reportedly unhappy with being denied the chances of promotion.

RKC Waalwijk were 11 points off safety and had been rooted to the bottom of the Eredivisie most of the year

ADO Den Haag, managed by Alan Pardew, have survived despite being seven points off safety.

In terms of Champions League qualification, Ajax will progress straight to the final round of qualifiers while AZ Alkmaar will enter in the second round of qualifiers.

Ajax would have advanced straight to the group stages under normal circumstances.

PA

Feyenoord will go straight to the Europa League group stages with PSV and Willem II entering via third and second round qualifiers respectively.

Eyes will now turn to other top leagues in Europe who are yet to decide how their league seasons will finish.

UEFA declared that next season's Champions League places will be determined by 'sporting merit' but it hasn't solved domestic issues.

How do you think the current football season should be decided?

Let us know in the comments below.

Topics: Football News, Football, Eredivisie, Coronavirus

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

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