Eredivisie teams support Ajax’s call to scrap league amid coronavirus pandemic
Two more leading Dutch clubs joined champions Ajax in calling for the cancellation of the rest of the Eredivisie season this week after neighbours Belgium brought their campaign to a close on Thursday.
AZ Alkmaar, who were leading the standings with Ajax when the league was suspended last month because of the coronavirus pandemic, and PSV Eindhoven, champions in 2018 and runners-up last season, added their voices to a call made by Ajax technical director Marc Overmars.
“We find the current coronavirus situation extremely concerning and think to complete the rest of the season behind closed doors in irrelevant,” AZ technical director Robert Eenhoorn told Dutch media.
“Plus, there is still a lot of uncertainty about how the virus outbreak will continue to develop,” he added.
“We cannot find any justifiable reason to restart the season,” PSV technical director Toon Gerbrands said.
They echoed the sentiments of Overmars, who was irritated by the Dutch football association’s (KNVB) decision to try to complete the campaign, even if it means re-starting as late as mid-June.
He said there was no point in playing on when the impact of the coronavirus presented far more pressing concerns.
The KNVB said on Wednesday it would follow a Uefa suggestion to attempt to complete the season.
Feyenoord, the country’s other leading club, said they felt it better to wait and see how things develop over the coming weeks.
“An uncompleted competition is unsatisfactory for everybody, players as well as supporters,” Feyenoord technical director Mark Koevermans said.
Belgium had earlier on Thursday called time on their season and Club Brugge were crowned champions.
On Friday, the Premier League suspended its season indefinitely.
Reuters
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