If all goes well, Antwerp will play the cup final on Saturday and Beerschot on Sunday the promotion final, but they still do not know whether they can train on-site in the coming days. It looks bad based on the statements of the Antwerp governor. She wants to ban that and does not want any matches in her province in the coming weeks.
Cathy Berx (CD&V) stood firm last night. “As the decision will now be written, in principle no competitions are allowed in the province of Antwerp,” she added VTM. “You can train as long as there is no contact. Endurance training, running, kicking or heading a ball remotely, is not included in the decision. ”
At Antwerp and Beerschot, they will still be able to train with contact today – after all, we still have to wait for the measures to be officialised – but what about the next days? They are both facing a crucial game and cannot afford to do half-hearted work on the practice field. At the Great Old they are very bored with the case. Especially since there is still no hundred percent clarity, because the governor invariably uses the term “in principle”.
“We can only rely on statements in the media,” said spokesman Dimitri Huygen. “Of course we understand the measures we all need to take, but in this way it is incredibly difficult to work, just before the most important match of the season. Of course we already have a plan-B to train outside the province, but we advocate, just like the Pro League, that there be a national regulation for professional sports. Because the protocol – drawn up with virologists and expert groups, around testing, tracing and isolation – has clearly worked in recent months. We are able to train and play safely. ”
Pro League continues to ask for an exception
It is not only about Antwerp, Beerschot and their finals, but also about KV Mechelen, Westerlo, Union – which trains in Lier – and the whole competition start. Should all these clubs move to logical locations such as the national center in Tubize? And should they postpone their home matches? As Huygen states, the Pro League still asks for an exception for the Antwerp professional clubs. It refers to the English Leicester City and the Catalan professional clubs, for whom people also made an exception, without problems afterwards. And the Pro League also made an addition by announcing that every game will be played behind closed doors in August anyway. But it does not seem to be of any use.
The question is also still whether the cup final and promotion final can take place at all. Normally, because there is no problem for Brussels and Leuven. But what decides Home Affairs, which is wary of any gatherings? The clubs are praying again for good news. At Antwerp they already think that their fans can really stick to the measures. “Our hard core reacted positively this morning by stating that they absolutely would not go to Brussels for the final. We must all show citizenship, but we must also be given the opportunity to demonstrate this. ”
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