On Friday morning, the KNVB has announced the match days calendar for the coming season, in which flexibility has been built in with a view to a possible second corona wave. The union aims to finish the top games in the second half of the season as much as possible and the playoffs are about a single game. Contrary to previous reports, there will be no fixed Eredivisie game on Sunday evening.
The Eredivisie season starts on the weekend of September 12 and 13, after the international matches of the Orange on September 4 and 7 against Poland and Italy, respectively. The Kitchen Champion Division will kick off on Friday 28 August.
Contrary to previous years, the battle for the Johan Cruijff Scale will not be the start of the season. The traditional competition has been canceled, as there has been no champion or cup winner last season.
The days that mainly play in the Eredivisie are Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the games start at 6:45 pm, 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm, while 4:30 pm may also be considered an option. On Sundays, the start times are 12.15 pm, 2.30 pm and 4.45 pm.
There was a lot of criticism of the plan to kick off in the Eredivisie every week at 8 p.m. on a Sunday evening, and that is now canceled. The time remains an option, but only if a club requests it because of a Europa League game on Thursday evening. This was also the case last season.
Most important decisions for next season
- No fixed match on Sunday at 8 p.m.
- Top duels as much as possible after the winter break
- Playoffs are about one game
- No duel for Johan Cruijff Schaal
- Shorter winter break
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Winter break shorter than usual
Because the Eredivisie starts later due to the corona crisis, the winter break is shorter. The last Eredivisie games of 2020 will be on December 23 and the season will resume on January 8. The Kitchen Champion Division will be played again on January 3. The Eredivisie ends with rounds on May 13 and 16 and the regular season of the Kitchen Champion Division is over on May 14.
To be ready for the European Championship in time, the play-off confrontations about both European football and promotion / relegation are only about one game instead of a diptych. The professional football season is over on 23 May.
In the coming weeks, the KNVB will specify exactly when which match will be played. Clubs can name two opponents against which they prefer to play as late as possible in the season, because there is hope that they can kick off in a full stadium. As a result, the toppers and derbies will probably be played especially after the winter break. At the start of the Eredivisie, the stadiums – as it stands now – will be partly filled.
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The Dutch professional clubs will have a busy season. (Photo: Pro Shots)
“We can move to other regions”
The KNVB emphasizes that “maximum flexibility” has been built into the calendar because of the chance that the coronavirus will flare up again.
“Corona has taught us that we live in a new reality and with new uncertainties. We also want to be able to finish the competition in the event of unexpected interruptions. For this we have built in extra moments when matches can be caught up,” said Jan Bluyssen, manager of professional affairs football.
“We have also created the possibility of diverting to other regions in the Netherlands, should regional restrictions apply anywhere. Furthermore, the wishes of the clubs and the broadcasting agents were the main focus when drawing up the new match days calendar.”
In mid-July, the KNVB will announce the final schedule, containing the exact matches and playing times. The union will first discuss this with the Eredivisie CV, the Cooperative Eerste Divisie, the clubs, the broadcasting agents and the local authorities.
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