Amsterdam (AP) - Many clubs have reacted to the end of the season in Dutch professional football with disappointment and anger because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A number of clubs felt badly disadvantaged in terms of sport and finance, the broadcaster NOS reported. FC Utrecht even wanted to go to court. Criticism was directed primarily against regulations of the football association KNVB for participation in the European club competitions, the Champions League and the Europa League. In cities, on the other hand, where the clubs benefited from the decision, the fans celebrated.
On April 24, the KNVB had decided that there would be no champions and no promoters after the end of the season. At the same time, Ajax Amsterdam was set to move into the Champions League. Cup finalist Feyenoord Rotterdam, PSV Eindhoven and Willem II Tilburg are to start in the Europa League.
Utrecht's club boss Thijs van Es spoke of a "black day for football". The decisions of the KNVB "lack transparency and objectivity", he scolded. A possible entry of Utrecht into the Europa League should actually only be decided in the cup final against Feyenoord, which is now no longer taking place. In Tilburg, however, whose club Willem II moves into the Europa League just before Utrecht due to its placement in the Eredivisie, fans celebrated with a car parade.
Experts gave little chance of complaints against the KNVB decisions. "A judge in the Netherlands hardly takes the sporting aspects into account, but mainly judges the procedure," said the lecturer in sports and law Marjan Olfers to NOS.
NOs.nl report
Notification KNVB, Dutch
AD.nl on the reactions of the clubs