Dutch FA’s decision to excuse Ajax from league game last weekend...

[Rozay]

Not really been discussed as such, but Ajax had their league game last weekend postponed in order to allow them to prepare for their Champions League match against Real. As we saw on Tuesday, it certainly didn’t have a negative effect.

What do we think of this? Should federations do things like this more often?

 

[Tommy]

Absolutely. Anything that can be done to help our clubs in Europe should be done. Sadly, TV contracts will likely always get in the way.

 

[OutlawGER]

Unthinkable in the Bundesliga.

 

[cian68]

Liverpool playing on a Sunday this week before their Bayern game is a bit of a joke.

 

[Moriarty]

Unthinkable in the Bundesliga.

In England too (unless the FA can see a way of making money from it).

 

[Mogget]

Rennes did the same thing last weekend

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

I don't mind. Other Dutch fans probably took the piss a bit calling them soft shites but it looks like it worked a treat.

 

[Rado_N]

Unthinkable in the Bundesliga.

So long as it's not Bayern vs Dortmund they don't bloody need it.

 

[Dave89]

Can't say I'm a Real fan, but frankly it's a disgrace. If you don't have the squad to play multiple competitions, don't enter them

 

[The Firestarter]

Can't say I'm a Real fan, but frankly it's a disgrace. If you don't have the squad to play multiple competitions, don't enter them

Why?

 

[Rozay]

Why?

I presume he thinks it’s unfair on their CL opponent if they are afforded a weekend off when they aren’t.

 

[Minimalist]

Can't say I'm a Real fan, but frankly it's a disgrace. If you don't have the squad to play multiple competitions, don't enter them

Alright grandpa.

 

[100]

Makes sense if you're the last team from the league in the competition. Becomes an issue of fairness if theres multiple teams. Can you imagine the FA rearranging four teams and the accusations from Liverpool/City.

 

[The Firestarter]

I presume he thinks it’s unfair on their CL opponent if they are afforded a weekend off when they aren’t.

Would be a disgrace if this was done by UEFA. Since it's Dutch FA this is completely internal matter. It would be beneficial for them if a Dutch team progressed far in Europe , so it is natural that they'd help them.

 

[Cloud7]

I think it’s a good idea. The FA’s of the respective countries should be willing to help their clubs do better.

That being said, where would you draw the line. It’s all well and good saying we should get a rest before Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, but then how do we draw the line? What if Spurs wanted a rest before playing Dortmund? What if City determined that Schalke are a tricky enough team that they need the weekend off to prepare?

For that reason I think it’s a non starter.

 

[Nick7]

Good. The FA's should help out their teams more.

 

[marktan]

Any idea why the FA never re-arranges dates to help CL teams? Is it because of TV contracts or just due to the logistics?

 

[OutlawGER]

In England too (unless the FA can see a way of making money from it).

If i remember correctly, La Liga is doing stuff like that too for Real (and others?).

 

[Rozay]

I remember we chose to withdraw from the FA Cup after 99 because the FA didn’t want to be flexible for us.

 

[Moriarty]

If i remember correctly, La Liga is doing stuff like that too for Real (and others?).

Wouldn't surprise me.

 

[NinjaZombie]

Liverpool playing on a Sunday this week before their Bayern game is a bit of a joke.

It really is. Unfortunately, I don't see things changing. Prem and TV schedules.

 

[Wumminator]

For smaller countries it makes massive sense and I would agree with it.

 

[Spotkick]

Can't say I'm a Real fan, but frankly it's a disgrace. If you don't have the squad to play multiple competitions, don't enter them

You know what a disgrace is? That real madrid got outclassed by a bunch of youngsters from ajax despite them having a budget 100 times bigger than ajax. That ramos thought they would win it in madrid after being 2nd best in amsterdam.
On: They did it because the Dutch are fighting Austria for a direct CL spot for the champion of their leagues. We should respect this minor adjustment from the Dutch FA. Its not like in England where a club who had a louzy season and finishes in 4th get a CL spot. In fact they should change the name to something else because champions league isnt a proper name for it anymore.

 

[VorZakone]

Was fatigue always this "relevant" ? You'd think that with these large squads most top clubs should be capable of playing multiple games in a week without fatigue issues.

 

[Moriarty]

I remember we chose to withdraw from the FA Cup after 99 because the FA didn’t want to be flexible for us.

That and the pressure they applied to get us to play in that tournament. We should have told them to shove it given the way the FA and Football League treated us down the years.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Someone should help Ligue 1 teams, they are clearly having a heavy fixture schedule with difficult opposition.

 

[SuperiorXI]

It shouldn't be one rule for one and not the other... that's obviously unfair.

 

[Eire Red United]

Not really been discussed as such, but Ajax had their league game last weekend postponed in order to allow them to prepare for their Champions League match against Real. As we saw on Tuesday, it certainly didn’t have a negative effect.

What do we think of this? Should federations do things like this more often?

Fair play.

 

[Dave89]

You know what a disgrace is? That real madrid got outclassed by a bunch of youngsters from ajax despite them having a budget 100 times bigger than ajax. That ramos thought they would win it in madrid after being 2nd best in amsterdam.
On: They did it because the Dutch are fighting Austria for a direct CL spot for the champion of their leagues. We should respect this minor adjustment from the Dutch FA. Its not like in England where a club who had a louzy season and finishes in 4th get a CL spot. In fact they should change the name to something else because champions league isnt a proper name for it anymore.

Hard to argue with you that real's own performance was disgraceful, but league bodies should not be showing preferential treatment to individual clubs.

 

[Tiber]

Don't approve of this one bit

 

[arnie_ni]

No issue. Its up to each individual league to decide.

I would have an issue if there was multiple teams from one league left and not all teams got the same treatment within the same league

 

[Becks-7-]

Düsseldorf vs Frankfurt tomorrow, Inter vs Frankfurt on Thursday.

Great move DFL...

 

[Chipper]

Not sure about it.

Their league opponents, PEC Zwolle now have to play Ajax midweek this week ahead of an important away match against Excelsior. It's a big relegation matchup. Excelsior have the full week to prepare.

 

[Gasolin]

It's unfair competition for sure. But small federations will do it if it helps their teams and we cannot really blame them.

 

[andyox]

The domestic league is the bread and butter, so shouldn't be moved around for a European cup competition.

Added to that, it's completely unfair on Ajax's league opponents who now have their schedule impacted. Absolute joke really.

 

[Acrobat7]

Liverpool playing on a Sunday this week before their Bayern game is a bit of a joke.

The CL game is on Wednesday, so it really should not be an issue.

 

[Paxi]

If it's not against the rules then more power to them. Though I do thinkwe should regulate this so that all clubs have an equal advantage.

 

[JPRouve]

One thing that people need to remember is that it's important for smaller leagues to see their teams gain points in UEFA competitions since they have less teams.

 

[rcoobc]

Any idea why the FA never re-arranges dates to help CL teams? Is it because of TV contracts or just due to the logistics?

Let's get this right. It's the Prem, not the FA

 

[BAMSOLA]

Its unfair to the teams in the same league as them and unfair on a wider basis in terms of European competition.

As long as their fixtures allows 2-3 days of recovery in between then they should not be able to cancel the fixture for any other reason than safety grounds.

Its up to the club staff to manage the condition of their own players between fixtures.

If this becomes more of a habit it has negative implications for domestic competition especially in regard to a team who aren't involved in European competition but are challenging a side like Ajax for the league.