Defending champion Ajax have been denied the Eredivisie title after the Dutch 2019-20 season was ended early due to coronavirus, despite the league’s announcement that current standings will be recognised as final. The Eredivisie was ended as prime minister Mark Rutte declared that all football matches are forbidden until September 1.
Eredivisie end season
This is the first time Eredivisie is not having a designated champion in the league’s 64-year history. The last time there was no champion crowned in Dutch football was during World War II, with the Eredivisie yielding a winner every year since it was founded in 1956. The 2019/20 in the Netherlands was declared over with no league champion and no promotion or relegation.
Ajax chief Edwin van der Sar admits the decision to scrap the Eredivisie season was understandable.
As players and coaches, you want to win the title on the field. We have been top of the table throughout the season, so it is a pity we haven’t been able to become champion but given the situation we are in, it is understandable. There are a lot more important matters than football right now.
Edwin van der Sar, Ajax chief, the former Dutch national team and Manchester United goalkeeper
League Table – Eredivisie 2019-20
| Pos | Team | M | W | GD | PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ajax | 25 | 18 | 45 | 56 |
| 2 | AZ | 25 | 18 | 37 | 56 |
| 3 | Feyenoord | 25 | 14 | 15 | 50 |
| 4 | PSV Eindhoven | 26 | 14 | 26 | 49 |
| 5 | Willem II | 26 | 13 | 3 | 44 |
| 6 | Utrecht | 25 | 12 | 16 | 41 |
| 7 | Vitesse | 26 | 12 | 10 | 41 |
| 8 | Heracles Almelo | 26 | 10 | 6 | 36 |
| 9 | Groningen | 26 | 10 | 1 | 35 |
| 10 | Heerenveen | 26 | 8 | 0 | 33 |
| 11 | Sparta Rotterdam | 26 | 9 | −4 | 33 |
| 12 | Emmen | 26 | 9 | −13 | 32 |
| 13 | VVV-Venlo | 26 | 8 | −27 | 28 |
| 14 | Twente | 26 | 7 | −12 | 27 |
| 15 | PEC Zwolle | 26 | 7 | −18 | 26 |
| 16 | Fortuna Sittard | 26 | 6 | −23 | 26 |
| 17 | ADO Den Haag | 26 | 4 | −29 | 19 |
| 18 | RKC Waalwijk | 26 | 4 | −33 | 15 |
Qualification to European Competitions from Eredivisie
The decision to finalise the table was made after UEFA asked the Dutch federation to maintain the current standings to decide which teams are awarded spots in European competition.
Ajax will head straight to the last round of Champions League qualification despite being level on points with AZ Alkmaar, who will enter in the second round of qualifiers.
Feyenoord, meanwhile, will head to the Europa League group stage as they sat third, while PSV and Willem II will enter the Europa League in the third and second round of qualifiers respectively.
Additionally, ADO Den Haag and RKC Waalwijk will remain in the Eredivisie next season after the Dutch federation opted to not promote or relegate any teams based on this season’s results.
