Friday, March 19, 2021 at 8:13 AM• Rian Rosendaal

Valentijn Driessen does not really like the establishment of the BeNeLiga, a competition with clubs from the Netherlands and Belgium. The chief football from The Telegraph in his column for the morning newspaper, aims his arrows at the wealthy Bart Verhaeghe, chairman of Club Brugge. In Driessen’s view, the president comes up with unrealistic plans and the term ‘megalomania’ even comes up.

Verhaeghe wants to go public with Bruges, which also raises questions about Driessen. “This Verhaeghe is the driving force behind the BeNeLiga on another chessboard in our southern neighbors. He wants to play a major role in the European football community with Club Brugge,” the journalist wrote in his contribution on Friday morning. “Ajax serves as an example and Verhaeghe thinks that Ajax and the top of the Eredivisie need sportive and financial needs to realize his dream. Hence the BeNeLiga.”

Driessen thinks that the establishment of the BeNeLiga is not beneficial at all for Dutch clubs, especially in the sports field. Nevertheless, in Belgium they are thinking of a joint competition with ten Dutch and eight Belgian clubs, starting in 2024 or 2025. “For only one reason: money, extra money, extra guaranteed money”, explains the football follower, who from a sporting point of view no benefits. “The Netherlands and Belgium each receive five European tickets each year, but UEFA does not intend to reserve ten lucrative European tickets for the BeNeLiga. Not even in the new European formats from 2024, which UEFA hopes to present in April.”

According to Driessen, Dutch clubs must first overcome the necessary hurdles, such as a five-sixth majority in the Eredivisie, approval of the Eerste Divisie and an agreement with the general meeting of professional football of the KNVB. “It is logical that the Netherlands keeps a blow to the arm and the chance of a BeNeLiga adventure is estimated to be low. The Dutch top clubs and especially Ajax prove that they do not need the Belgians to break pots in Europe”, he refers to Ajax’s quarter-final place. in the Europa League.