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Eredivisie Looks Set To Become First Major League To Be Cancelled

Eredivisie Looks Set To Become First Major League To Be Cancelled

The decision has been taken out of the league's hands with the Prime Minister saying that games can't happen for another four months.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

The Eredivisie is set to be the first big European league to cancel the rest of the season after the Prime Minister said events couldn't take place, even without an audience, until September 1st.

There has been lots of talk but so far little action when it comes to UEFA and Football Associations deciding what to do with the end of the season, considering the current world pandemic.

So far only Belgium's Jupiler League from the continent's top tiers has been cancelled and neighbours Netherlands look set to join them.

On Tuesday Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a statement that organised events would remain cancelled until September, even behind closed doors.

Following that the league put out a statement saying, "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 league 19/20."

The league confirmed they would talk to UEFA about their options, adding, "Based on the government's decision today, the KNVB will consult with UEFA. After which the decision is made. On Friday, the clubs and other parties involved will meet to discuss the consequences.

"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."

There was initially talk that UEFA wouldn't be happy with any competition that decided to just cancel part way through and that clubs from cancelled leagues may not qualify for next season's European competitions.

However the government's interjection with the Eredivisie takes things out of the leagues hands and it's unlikely football's European governing body could punish them in those circumstances.

Ajax were brilliant in last season's Champions League. Image: PA Images
Ajax were brilliant in last season's Champions League. Image: PA Images

Ajax currently sit top of the table in Netherlands but are only ahead of AZ Alkmaar on goal difference, with both sides having nine games left.

There's a similar issue in the relegation places with PEC Zwolle only clear of the relegation play-offs as they've got a better goal difference than Fortuna Sittard.

In contrast to the Netherlands, their neighbours Germany could restart the Bundesliga as early as May 9th, according to reports earlier this week.

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Topics: Football News, Belgium, PSV, Eredivisie, Dutch football, Ajax, Netherlands, Feyenoord, Holland, Bundesliga