Friday, June 4, 2021 at 3:49 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 16:03

FC Twente has submitted a request to the KNVB to start the new season in the Eredivisie later. The club from Enschede hopes to be able to receive more supporters in the Grolsch Veste. According to general manager Paul van der Kraan, the professional football clubs have already discussed a later start of the competition. The KNVB has indicated that it will discuss the subject with the clubs on June 18, when another general meeting is scheduled.

Professional football in the Netherlands will start on Friday 6 August with the first round of matches in the Kitchen Champion Division, after which the battle for the Johan Cruijff Scale will take place between Ajax and PSV on Sunday 8 August. The Eredivisie starts a week later. “The competition start is indeed planned for the weekend of Saturday 14 August, but perhaps with further favorable developments the stadiums can already open completely,” Van der Kraan tells. TC Tubantia. “We have indicated to the KNVB to consider starting the competition a little later.”

The KNVB refuses to respond in advance to the Enschede’s proposal. “In the week of June 21, the exit strategy will be announced from the cabinet,” a spokesman said in a response to the above-mentioned regional daily. “Until then, there are no official guidelines. We always consult with the clubs about the football calendar.” Last year, the association brushed off a similar request from Heracles Almelo, when the club wanted to turn the derby around on the match day calendar in order to get more spectators in the Erve Asito. At the time, the football association did not agree.

Outgoing minister Hugo de Jonge recently expressed the expectation to have all adults fully vaccinated before 1 September. In that case, most corona measures will be cancelled, including wearing a mouth cap and the mandatory one and a half meters away. “For professional football, these are great messages and offer the prospect of playing in full stadiums again next season,” said Van der Kraan. The season ticket campaign is running at full speed at the club from Enschede. More than 15,000 fans of FC Twente have already extended their annual pass.