Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is expected to increase pressure on UEFA by announcing tonight that there will be no football before September 1.
So far UEFA, who are hosting a video conference today with 55 member associations, have put an emphasis on getting the 2019/20 season completed with threats that future Champions League places will be in doubt if leagues aren’t completed.
Belgium’s Pro League ignored that aim when they announced that Club Brugge would be declared the 2019/20 champions with planning in place to start next season whenever conditions improve.
UEFA’s Executive Committee meet on Thursday to discuss the way forward but before then there are likely to be developments coming in from Holland.
Leading Dutch publisher De Telegraaf reports:
The current deadline runs until June 1, but organizers and mayors have already asked the cabinet to provide clarity for a longer period of time. An exact date is not mentioned in the advice, which leaked on Tuesday morning, but it is probably 1 September.
The current deadline runs until June 1, but organizers and mayors have already asked the cabinet to provide clarity for a longer period of time. An exact date is not mentioned in the advice, which leaked on Tuesday morning, but it is probably 1 September.
If the Eredivisie has to be completed after that date, the new season will also be under pressure, which seems undesirable. Especially because the European Championship is on the program in the summer of 2021. Playing football after July 1 brings complications anyway, since the contracts of many football players expire on that day. Hakim Ziyech from Ajax will transfer to Chelsea on 1 July, for example.
The OMT (Outbreak Management Team) presented its advice on Tuesday to Minister Hugo de Jonge of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministerial Crisis Management Committee.
The cabinet will examine the document on Tuesday afternoon and then decide whether or not to adjust the current measures. At 19:00 the chosen route will be announced in a press conference with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister De Jonge.
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The board of the SPFL has been given permission by their clubs to call off the 2019/20 season with Premiership places decided on average points per game giving Celtic the title for a ninth season running.
