No More Play-Offs for European Ticket
- The structure of the Eredivisie, the top professional football league in the Netherlands, is poised for a notable change.
- Werts, formerly the commercial director of Feyenoord, characterized the current play-off system as problematic.
- A key factor driving this proposed change is the collective desire of Eredivisie teams to secure a top-six position in the UEFA coefficient rankings. This ranking directly impacts...
Eredivisie play-offs for European Football Likely to End
The structure of the Eredivisie, the top professional football league in the Netherlands, is poised for a notable change. According to Chris Werts, speaking on the program Today Inside, the play-offs for European football qualification are expected to be eliminated in the near future. This alteration aims to bolster the Netherlands’ position within the UEFA coefficient rankings, specifically maintaining its coveted sixth-place standing.
Werts, formerly the commercial director of Feyenoord, characterized the current play-off system as problematic. “Those annoying play-offs are a thorn in the eye,” he stated. “The clubs are fed up. The match days calendar is too full. They want to play a less long season, because with the play-offs you continue until the end of May.”
A key factor driving this proposed change is the collective desire of Eredivisie teams to secure a top-six position in the UEFA coefficient rankings. This ranking directly impacts the number of Champions League group stage berths allocated to a nation. “For that you need the six strongest clubs in Europe. So the play-offs have to disappear quickly if it is indeed up to the clubs,” Werts explained.
The 2024/25 season is currently slated to be the last in which the play-offs are held. “We have to hold that sixth place, or else we will lose a Champions League place, and that’s a shame,” Werts cautioned. As 2009, a spot in European competition has been awarded via these play-offs.Last season, Go Ahead Eagles emerged victorious but subsequently fell in the second preliminary round of the UEFA Conference League to Norway’s SK Brann.
Eredivisie Play-offs: What’s Changing in Dutch Football?
Q: What’s the big news about the Eredivisie?
The Eredivisie, the top professional football league in the Netherlands, is likely eliminating its play-offs for European football qualification. This means a importent change in how teams earn their spots in European competitions like the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
Q: Why is the Eredivisie considering eliminating the play-offs?
The main reason is to improve the Netherlands’ position in the UEFA coefficient rankings. The goal is to maintain a top-six position. This ranking directly influences the number of Champions League group stage spots allocated to Dutch clubs.
Q: Who is behind this proposed change?
According to the article, the clubs themselves wont the play-offs to disappear. Chris Werts,formerly the commercial director of feyenoord,explained that the clubs are fed up wiht the play-off system.
Q: What’s the problem with the current play-off system?
werts characterizes the play-offs as problematic. He describes them as a “thorn in the eye,” citing that the match calendar becomes too full and the season continues until the end of May.
Q: How does the UEFA coefficient ranking affect the Eredivisie?
Maintaining a high UEFA coefficient ranking is crucial for the Eredivisie because this ranking determines how manny teams from the league qualify directly for the Champions League group stage. The higher the ranking, the more automatic qualification spots a league receives.
Q: What specific ranking position is the Eredivisie aiming to protect?
The article highlights the Eredivisie’s aim to maintain its sixth-place standing in the UEFA coefficient rankings.
Q: When did the eredivisie play-offs for European spots begin?
A spot in European competition has been awarded via play-offs as 2009.
Q: Is there a specific time frame mentioned for when the play-offs might end?
yes, the 2024/25 season is currently slated to be the last in which the play-offs are held.
Q: What happened to the team that won the play-offs last season?
Last season, Go Ahead Eagles emerged victorious in the play-offs. However, they afterward fell in the second preliminary round of the UEFA Conference League to Norway’s SK Brann.
Q: What are the potential consequences of not maintaining a top-six ranking?
The article warns that the Eredivisie risks losing a Champions League spot if it falls out of the top six in the UEFA rankings.
Q: How have the UEFA rankings been affected with this change?
The Eredivisie has secured sixth place in the UEFA rankings. This means that in the 2026/27 season, the Eredivisie will once again have two direct spots in the Champions League group stage.
Q: What is the overall intention behind eliminating the Eredivisie play-offs?
The overall intention is to make a shorter season for the clubs, and to help secure that the strongest clubs are always in the Champions League which will help the league maintain its sixth-place standing in the UEFA rankings.