The professional clubs met again yesterday to discuss the competition format. No decisions have been made yet. But the end of the halving of points seems to be getting very close.
At the previous meeting about the competition format, the top clubs were separated from the smaller first division teams on the one hand and the second division teams on the other. Yesterday, those three working groups were mixed.
All different avenues were discussed. A competition of 18 without play-offs cannot be ruled out. For the time being, a competition with 16 clubs and play-offs with 4 teams seems to have the edge. Two clubs would be promoted and relegated directly. The Second Division would therefore consist of 16 clubs. These avenues will be further developed in the coming weeks.
Club chairman Bart Verhaeghe wants to move forward with Belgian football © Photo News
In the meantime, the chance seems rather small that the proposal that the eight ‘largest’ clubs made in March – a first division with fourteen clubs – would be successful. Inquiries show that in practice not all eight clubs unanimously supported that proposal. But in an informal preliminary meeting in February at the Castle of Bever of Club owner Bart Verhaeghe, the major clubs felt that it was time to open the debates about the future of Belgian football. Especially with negotiations about a new media contract lurking around the corner.
There is broad consensus on one topic. Most clubs consider the halving of points in the play-offs unfair. The advantage (more tension) does not outweigh the disadvantages (an unfair competition, fans dropping out, uncertainty for the clubs themselves). The chance is increasing that it will disappear.
A final decision must be made before the end of June.
© Photo News
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2024-05-15 05:09:00
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