The Benefits of Being a Champions League Contender

KNVB Arbitration Committee, 26 February 2019, PEC Zwolle

Date of the decision: 2019-02-26

On 20 February 2019, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) decided that the date of the match of AFC Ajax against PEC Zwolle had to be moved from 2 to 13 March 2019. This decision was made due to AFC Ajax playing Real Madrid in the Champions League on 5 March 2019. This decision was met with a lot of criticism. Not only PEC Zwolle, but PSV Eindhoven (at that moment the league leader) also stated that it was competition fraud. A legal procedure was even started to reverse the change of date. The KNVB Arbitration Committee however declined jurisdiction and the KNVB stuck with the new date.

KNVB Arbitration Committee, 26 February 2019, PEC Zwolle

Introduction

PEC Zwolle (PEC) v. AFC Ajax (Ajax), a match between two professional football clubs registered with the KNVB, was scheduled on matchday 24 in the Dutch Premier League. Because of the upcoming round sixteen’s final leg against Real Madrid, Ajax handed in a request to the KNVB to change the initial date of the match. Ajax stated that should their request be accepted, their players would be well rested, leading to a chance to obtain a good result at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu to increase their chances of reaching the Champions League’s quarter-finals.

Consequently, less than two weeks before the 24^th matchday, the KNVB decided to accept the request of Ajax and moved the date of the match. This decision had a...

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