:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/1f00fd76-e4ae-11eb-88b8-0218eaf05005.jpg "Fans furious because of Sunday evening duel in Eredivisie: ‘Shameless’ | Football")
sport">“This is contempt of the supporters,” said chairman Matthijs Keuning. “Last year, supporters spoke out en masse against playing football on Sunday evening. Clubs are now consciously opposing that wish. They say they find supporters important, but they show the opposite.”
sport">With football on a Sunday evening, especially the clubs that were active on Thursday evening in a European context, get more time to recover from the international efforts.
shameless
sport">“The decision is extra shameless because it comes after a period in which a lot has been asked of supporters,” Keuning argues. “Many clubs would not have existed if the supporters had not saved them recently. After an interrupted season, a year without a stadium visit and a new uncertain season ahead, supporters have again bought season tickets en masse. Then you cannot afford to implement such a large and sensitive change.”
sport">According to the Supporters collective, the time on Sunday evening is especially “undesirable” for the fans who have to go to school or work early on Monday morning. “Clubs should attract children and young people, but exclude that group. That threatens the future of the clubs. Supporters give the clubs the right to exist, are a crucial part of the football experience and also keep clubs afloat financially.”
sport">The Supporters Collective also continues to oppose a trial with an Eredivisie match on Saturday afternoon at 4.30 PM. “This trial was supposed to last one year, but has now been extended for another year. This means that all nine Eredivisie matches can be seen on television at a unique moment. This is attractive commercially, but for the supporter with a season ticket it is becoming an increasingly greater challenge to be able to visit all matches,” Keuning concludes.
:quality(50)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/154fca78-e4c7-11eb-a978-0218eaf05005.jpg)
—
Wouter Gudde, general manager of FC Groningen.
Ⓒ HH/ANP
—
Fc Groningen
sport">The management of FC Groningen says they belong to the “very small minority” that was against the plans of the Eredivisie CV. According to the club management, it feels very wry towards the supporters to have to bring this news right now, given the “incredible support” of the fans in recent seasons.
sport">“Sunday evening is not a time when we want to play matches,” argues FC Groningen general manager Wouter Gudde. “Young people are therefore excluded from visiting the stadium, as are people from various sectors who have to start a new working week early the next day. It can also be difficult for supporters who depend on public transport to visit the stadium on Sunday evening. We as clubs should not want that.”
–
