An important appointment in Belgian football is planned for next Wednesday. This will take place at the Pro League Board of Directors and the planned competition reform will be one of the most important agenda items. If it were up to RSC Anderlecht, among others, the entire plan would be overhauled.
After months of discussions in front of and behind the scenes, the much-discussed reform was finally approved in the spring. But the first protests soon emerged. Especially against the anchoring of the promising teams in the Challenger Pro League, which was part of the agreement. But several clubs also had their doubts about the abolition of the Play-Offs.
After all, the play-offs, especially the Champions’ Play-Offs, are a major attraction for a competition that does not necessarily have to be of the top quality as in the major European leagues. If this disappears, the Pro League will lose a very important asset if a buyer for the media rights has to be found again. And after the recent developments surrounding DAZN, that chance is high.
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In addition, this would also have financial consequences, especially for the top clubs. Suddenly ten absolute top matches are canceled for them, five of which are at home. And only three home matches, against lesser opponents, will take their place. This will in any case result in a loss of income. And can the same subscription prices continue to be charged if five guaranteed top players suddenly disappear? For example, Anderlecht was already concerned about that fact.
Initially, the record champion was in favor of reform. But with the new board at the helm, RSCA has completely turned around. “The competition reform was based on fewer matches to make our clubs more competitive in Europe. But this is about protecting our income. Fewer TV rights is already a fact. Less match income is also a fact in the new format. More taxes for the clubs are also becoming a fact,” he said in an extensive interview with The Standard.
Promotion rules change
Bornauw also adds that Belgian clubs have performed well in Europe in recent seasons with the current competition format. And that devaluing the competition will also lead to less competitiveness. According to him and his club, the POs should be retained. But then the relegation scheme will have to be adjusted in a current season. In that respect, the CEO of Anderlecht has put a sensational plan on the table.
For example, he believes that the rules of the Challenger Pro League should be adjusted. “Today, only the last one has to play a jump-off match against a club from 1B. You could say: we will keep it that way in 1A. Only the last one plays a jump-off match. So you don’t have to change anything about the rules for 1A. The only thing you have to change are the promotion rules in 1B. Because of course you cannot maintain that the first two are allowed to be promoted anyway. Maybe that can be the object of the vote. Because I never believe that we will last eighteen clubs in 1A for five years.”
