Dutch FA cancels Eredivisie games before Ajax meet Tottenham

Reading the article it gives the reason why an entire fixture card is postponed and says that while clubs were warned at the beginning of the season that this could happen some clubs are unhappy about it happening

Dutch football chiefs have cancelled a full round of Eredivisie fixtures before Ajax meet Tottenham in the Champions League semi-finals.

Ajax were set to play De Graafschap on Sunday, 28 April, then travel to Spurs for the first leg on Tuesday, 30 April.

The Dutch FA, the KNVB, said the decision to cancel top-flight fixtures was taken to give Ajax "at least two full days of rest between games".

"Not only Ajax, but all Dutch football benefits from this," it said.

All games have been cancelled to avoid Ajax and De Graafschap playing at the end of the season once other games have taken place, potentially compromising the competition.

The round of fixtures will instead be played on Wednesday, 15 May - subject to local authorities and police agreeing to the date changes.

The KNVB said the change was needed because Ajax were in the Champions League semi-finals, the Dutch Cup final and challenging for the Eredivisie title - but stressed it was about player welfare and not a decision designed to give the team an advantage over the Premier League side.

It added clubs agreed when the fixture list was compiled at the start of the season that changes may need to be made in "the very small chance that one of the clubs would go that far in the Champions League".

The KNVB met clubs on Thursday to discuss the plans - and it admitted many were not happy about the change.

Professional football director Eric Gudde said: "We are aware that it is impossible to satisfy everyone, but a knot must be made.

"There can be no question of full satisfaction because this is ultimately not pleasant for any of the people involved. What is really nice is the reason why this was necessary: the semi-final place of Ajax in the Champions League."

He also explained why all fixtures had to be cancelled, not just De Graafschap v Ajax. "That would mean that only this match was played after 12 May," he said.

"Clubs and fans deserve a fair and as exciting as possible end to the competition, hence the starting point of playing simultaneously on the last two match days.

"Ajax plays for the championship and De Graafschap is in the danger zone for relegation. Not only would the denouement remain in one game that is played later, this also gives De Graafschap more time to prepare for this perhaps decisive game than the other relegation candidates."

Gudde said moving the Ajax game back to 26 or 27 April was not possible because it would clash with King's Day celebrations in Amsterdam, one of the city's largest festivals, and cause "insurmountable problems".

Spurs play West Ham United at 12:30 BST on Saturday, 27 April. However, their league fixture against Bournemouth at 20:00 on Monday, 6 May - two days before the second leg of their semi-final - is expected to be moved by the Premier League.
 
Good on the decision makers doing this. I'd love to see them get to the final, what an achievement that would be.

Such a shame that the team will be torn apart similar to what happened to Monaco recently.
 
Well done KNVB. A football association acting in the interests of Dutch football. Fu©k the SFA. Corrupt to the core.
 
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I would have thought the ‘journalist’ writing the article would know the difference between ‘cancelled’ and ‘postponed’, evidently not.
 
Of course you do know that (no laughing at the back) should celtc ever reach a major Euro final then everything will be done to ensure they have a chance of winning it.
 
This is how governing bodies in football work for its member clubs,its sad that scotland has its business run from the the mentally challengeds boardroom.
 
I wonder if Celtic fans have an ounce of perspective and can see how small time this makes them look in comparison to proper football countries and clubs.
 
Aye but what do the Dutch know about football anyway?
They know enough to know what matters. ;)

mhDYnTu.jpg
 
I think people are forgetting that the league was extended by 5 days to help us...

We only had to play matches on the 4th, 7th, 10th then the Europa League Final on the 14, followed by more games on the 17th, 19th and 22nd.

When you see it written like that it's a fcking disgrace. How dare a Scottish team (*cough* Rangers) do well in Europe.
 
Reading the article it gives the reason why an entire fixture card is postponed and says that while clubs were warned at the beginning of the season that this could happen some clubs are unhappy about it happening

Dutch football chiefs have cancelled a full round of Eredivisie fixtures before Ajax meet Tottenham in the Champions League semi-finals.

Ajax were set to play De Graafschap on Sunday, 28 April, then travel to Spurs for the first leg on Tuesday, 30 April.

The Dutch FA, the KNVB, said the decision to cancel top-flight fixtures was taken to give Ajax "at least two full days of rest between games".

"Not only Ajax, but all Dutch football benefits from this," it said.

All games have been cancelled to avoid Ajax and De Graafschap playing at the end of the season once other games have taken place, potentially compromising the competition.

The round of fixtures will instead be played on Wednesday, 15 May - subject to local authorities and police agreeing to the date changes.

The KNVB said the change was needed because Ajax were in the Champions League semi-finals, the Dutch Cup final and challenging for the Eredivisie title - but stressed it was about player welfare and not a decision designed to give the team an advantage over the Premier League side.

It added clubs agreed when the fixture list was compiled at the start of the season that changes may need to be made in "the very small chance that one of the clubs would go that far in the Champions League".

The KNVB met clubs on Thursday to discuss the plans - and it admitted many were not happy about the change.

Professional football director Eric Gudde said: "We are aware that it is impossible to satisfy everyone, but a knot must be made.

"There can be no question of full satisfaction because this is ultimately not pleasant for any of the people involved. What is really nice is the reason why this was necessary: the semi-final place of Ajax in the Champions League."

He also explained why all fixtures had to be cancelled, not just De Graafschap v Ajax. "That would mean that only this match was played after 12 May," he said.

"Clubs and fans deserve a fair and as exciting as possible end to the competition, hence the starting point of playing simultaneously on the last two match days.

"Ajax plays for the championship and De Graafschap is in the danger zone for relegation. Not only would the denouement remain in one game that is played later, this also gives De Graafschap more time to prepare for this perhaps decisive game than the other relegation candidates."

Gudde said moving the Ajax game back to 26 or 27 April was not possible because it would clash with King's Day celebrations in Amsterdam, one of the city's largest festivals, and cause "insurmountable problems".

Spurs play West Ham United at 12:30 BST on Saturday, 27 April. However, their league fixture against Bournemouth at 20:00 on Monday, 6 May - two days before the second leg of their semi-final - is expected to be moved by the Premier League.
That’s leadership for you.
Doing the right thing isn’t always popular.
Okay, maybe cancelling the whole card was ott but, the message, that there is a bigger and more important picture, is clear.
 
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I don't understand, why does all the league games need to be postponed why not just the Ajax game.
 
I don't understand, why does all the league games need to be postponed why not just the Ajax game.

Because as stated it could potentially compromising the competition

League final day is 12th May if Ajax game is the only one played after then it could still have a part to play in the final positions
 
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That’s leadership for you.
Doing the right thing isn’t always popular.
Okay, maybe cancelling the whole card was ott but, the message, that there is a bigger and more important picture, is clear.

If Ajax v De Graafschap could played on 26th or 27th then it would have done. With Amsterdam hosting Kings Day celebration they can't play it on those dates

The Dutch FA have done the right whether other clubs are happy or not
 
Imagine living in a country where the football authorities actually work for the benefit of their members. England is just as bad as Scotland in this regard.
 
They're miles behind us, when will they ever learn. Next they'll be telling us our coaching methods have be wrong for years and some ridiculous idea about academy's.
Coaching cluggers is the way forward, stupid dutch are coaching technical skills, haha.
 
Some folk cant read.
All the comments about how good the Dutch FA is and sporting integrity.
If you look at the full story you will see that many of the teams are unhappy. They think that the Establishment team are being given a sporting advantage.
The fact is it's not unlike what happens here.
 
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