Covid-19/Netherlands: matches banned until 01/09/2020, 2019-20 season likely to be terminated

"It was an important day for professional football, with clarification from the government on the Coronavirus situation. It was decided that major events will remain banned until 01/09/2020. Until that date, no professional football matches will be played, even behind closed doors (as they are subject to authorisation and require a police presence). Consequently, the professional football committee, which is in charge of the subject, intends to end the 2019-20 season," stated the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) on 21/04/2020.

This announcement follows the intervention, on the same day, of Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, who announced the extension of the ban on numerous events in the country, such as festivals, street fairs and sporting events, until 01/09/2020. Eight Eredivisie matchdays (out of 34) and two postponed matches remained to be played in 2019-20, with the championship having been suspended at the end of Matchday 26 (06-08/04/2020). Nine matchdays plus playoffs remain to be played in the Eerste divisie (second division, 20 teams).

"Based on…