By Samindra Kunti
March 17 – Belgium’s top flight clubs have voted in support of a cross-border BeNeLiga, a league that would see Belgian clubs play their counterparts from the Dutch Eredivisie.
On Tuesday, the Belgian Pro League said that its general assembly unanimously voted in favour of an ‘agreement in principle’ for the BeNeLiga, an idea that has long been debated and discussed but to date had received little backing in both Belgium and the Netherlands.
“This ambition is based both on the respect of the big clubs’ sporting ambitions, and on the need for economic stability for the other professional clubs,” wrote the Pro League in a statement. “The 25 clubs are unanimous in their desire to give the BeNeLiga a fair chance.”
The expectation is that eight Belgium clubs would join ten Dutch clubs in a league that would generate higher revenues and more income, from broadcast rights in particular.
Last year, consulting company Deloitte calculated that a merger could generate up to €400 million a year in marketing and television rights deals. Some of Belgium’s leading clubs have been wary of the ever-widening gap between Europe’s elite and the rest and see the BeNeLiga as a way to expand their own footprint. It is the first time that the smaller clubs have backed the idea of a BeNeLiga.
A BeNeLiga existed in women’s football, but was disbanded after three seasons because of a panoply of problems and disagreements between the participants.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1735059073labto1735059073ofdlr1735059073owedi1735059073sni@o1735059073fni1735059073