The Belgian Football League joined its Dutch and French
counterparts, after the League League “Brolige”, on
Friday, decided to end the season and adopt the “final
arrangement”, which means Bruges has crowned the title
because it was ahead of the season’s suspension due to
the new Coronavirus.
The decision, which was postponed more than once,
came after the government announced on the sixth of this
month to suspend all sports competitions, including
football, until July 31.
The association recommended since the beginning of
April to end the season and adopt the current
arrangement, but this proposal irritated the European
Union for the game, which warned the Belgian football
authorities to rush to end the season before exhausting all
possible ways to end it.
Belgium followed in the footsteps of France, which
named Paris Saint-Germain a champion of the league,
while the Dutch League ended without giving the title to
any team.
Thanks to this decision, which also dropped Gasland-
Beveren to the second degree, Bruges crowned his 16th
title as a result of leading the league 15 points behind his
closest opponents after 29 out of 30 stages in the regular
season that is usually followed by the “Play Off” with
the participation of the first 6 clubs in Arrangement.
As a result of the playoff round, the first-place player
qualifies to the group stage of the Champions League,
runner-up to the third preliminary round of the first
continental competition.
Bruges will, therefore, participate in the Champions
League group stage next season, while Ghent will play
the third preliminary round, with the European League
(Europa League) playing, each of Charlois (group stage),
Antwerp (preliminary round) and Standard Liege
(preliminary round second).
Bruges will not be able to celebrate the coronation as
a result of the closure imposed by the spread of the
“Covid-19” virus but to compensate for his fans, the team
will organize on Sunday a virtual party that begins at
half-past five in the local time on Facebook and
YouTube.
Commander Rod Vormer sent a brief message to the fans
in a video in which the Dutchman said: “Dear fans,
congratulations on winning the title. It was a wonderful
year … We appreciate what has achieved thanks to you
too. Because without you, it wouldn’t have been
possible.”.
