No league winner, promotion and relegation suspended as Dutch end season

‘It feels like the biggest scandal ever in Dutch sport,’ says coach of second-tier leaders

There will be no title for league leaders Ajax after the Dutch Football Association decided to end the season. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire

The Dutch Football Association has decided to end the season with no champions, no promotion or relegation and European qualification decided on the existing league table.

The KNVB has called time on the campaign following the Dutch Prime Minister’s decision to ban all sporting events until September due to the coronavirus, with leaders Ajax missing out on being crowned champions.

RKC Waalwijk, who were almost certain to be relegated, have avoided the drop along with ADO Den Haag, managed by Alan Pardew, pictured, who also looked vulnerable. No teams from the second-tier Eerste Divisie will be promoted.

As per Uefa’s directive for qualification for their European competitions to be decided on “sporting merit”, the KNVB has opted to use the league table as it stood when the season was suspended in March.

That means Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, who were separated by goal difference only, go into the Champions League, with Ajax entering at the final stage of qualifying.

Third-placed Feyenoord will qualify for the Europa League group stage while PSV and Willem II head into the second qualifying round for the Europa League, subject to confirmation from Uefa.

A statement from Eredivisie read: “The professional football board, after consulting clubs, players and coaches, and with the approval of the Supervisory Board, has decided to stop the 2019-20 competition and to allow the allocation of European club football spots based on the current league table. This is in accordance with Uefa guidelines. In relation to promotion and demotion, it has been decided not to promote and not to be demoted. It is a situation that was considered impossible, so that nothing is included in the KNVB regulations.

“Aware of the different visions and interests for the clubs, the KNVB is aware that whatever decision had to be made, every option would hurt somewhere.”

The governing body presented the 34 clubs with the option to vote on the issue of promotion and relegation, but after nine votes were returned blank it took the decision into its own hands.

RKC Waalwijk have welcomed the decision, not surprisingly as they were nine points from safety at the bottom of the Eredivisie. Cambuur were not so happy. They will miss out on promotion to the Eredivisie despite their four-point lead in the second tier.

“It feels like the biggest scandal ever in Dutch sport,” Cambuur coach Henk de Jong said.