The Dutch football association are considering a Belgium Pro league style re-vamp for the Eredivisie.
- By Mark Neale
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The policy makers at the KNVB are considering a restructure of the Eredivisie, based on the format used in Belgium for the Pro League.
The KNVB has added a new nationwide league, the Landelijke divisie, that will function as a go-between professional and amateur football with a system of promotion and relegation. Eighteen clubs, 14 Topklasse teams and four professional reserve teams, make up this new system that started this season, now their attentions have turned to the top two divisions.
Working on the premise of “the stronger the opponent, the stronger you will become,” the KNVB have glanced towards the structure of the Belgium Pro League. The Pro League consists of 16 teams, the top six sides qualify for the championship play-off, places seven to fifteen qualify for the Europa league play off with the 16th team relegated.
The Dutch Football Association, along with technical directors and fan opinion, hope to announce the outcome of the investigation and put forward a new league structure next year according to reports in the Voetbal International.
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Yes change is needed. But this is the wrong method. Instead of copying the belgian league, merge with them! A 18-20 team Benelux league would be even stronger. Maybe top 5 in Europe.
It’d would be great to have a combined league but its never going to happen. The politics, the dilution of power to another, the logistics of lower divisions, the fragmentation of national structures etc etc.
But it would be possible to have a knockout cup format played each season from maybe the top 8 teams.
More games isn’t the answer. In fact that is the opposite of what needs to happen.
There are many reasons (read excuses) as to why positive changes are not made. But the fact remains that Dutch football is falling further behind the rest of Europe. What is the KNVB going to do when the big 3 leave the Eredivisie for the long rumored “Atlantic league”?