The Dutch Eredivisie could ‘reverse the decision’ to cancel this season as there is a mounting threat of legal action posed by furious clubs.
Last week, Holland’s top flight announced that the season was cancelled with no winner declared and no teams to be relegated from the top flight due to the coronavirus crisis.
There was a predictably outraged response from some teams, such as Cambuur, who are 11 points clear in the second tier and seemingly destined for promotion to the Eredivisie.
Alan Pardew’s Den Haag breathed a sigh of relief as they were second-bottom and fighting for survival while Ajax and AZ Alkmaar were frustrated as they were denied the chance to become champions with both level on point at the summit.
Dutch football has been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis and the KNVB is also expected to ask the government for £350million to help Dutch football survive the financial losses incurred. .
But it seems there is growing clamour for the cancellation decision to change and Dutch politician Mark Boumans said: ‘I even think it can be reversed. My conclusion is that if half of the clubs plus one want to reverse the outcome of this week’s chaotic decision-making, then that is possible.’
His optimism will give hope to Cambuur, and the club’s general manager Ard de Graaf said ‘incomprehension’ at the decision has only increased.
A simulated version of the remainder of the season was conducted 10,000 times by a computer and Cambuuur were calculated to have a 99.5 per cent chance of promotion.
According to AD, there are legitimate legal grounds for a challenge. De Graaf added: ‘A child can see that there are legal brackets here. We have set out our first actions.’
Marjan Olfers, a professor of sports law told the Dutch publication that successful legal action ‘is indeed possible but will not be easy or fast.
Another club angered by the decision is Utrecht, who were denied a place in the Europa League despite having played a game less than Willem II and boasting superior goal difference.
The club’s owner confirmed he has already hired lawyers and said: ‘We are going to do everything we can to get us right.’
Clubs were afforded a vote to decide the outcome of the campaign, with 16 choosing to enable promotion and relegation for the Eredivisie.
However, a further nine sides voted against their competitors being allowed to move into different leagues, with nine more abstaining from the vote entirely and believing that the Dutch FA should decide.
The KNVB then ultimately opted to ensure that clubs will remain in their current divisions for when football does resume in the country.
Share your thoughts