Bizarre Promotion Scenario: FC Den Bosch Must Lose to Secure Play-Off Spot

The contest for promotion to the Eredivisie is set to be decided in the final round. ADO Den Haag has already clinched the title in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, with SC Cambuur taking the second position; this leaves just one remaining spot up for grabs in the promotion play-offs. These play-offs will feature six teams from the Keuken Kampioen Divisie and one from the Eredivisie competing for the last promotion place.

Qualification for the play-offs can occur in two ways: by finishing anywhere from third to eighth place in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie or by winning a period title. The season is split into four periods, each consisting of eight matches. Each period’s victor earns a spot in the play-offs, including one period title yet to be determined, leading to an unusual scenario.

Period Challenges

Currently, Willem II leads in period 4, closely followed by ADO Den Haag. Willem II, sitting in third place overall, has already booked their spot in the play-offs, while ADO Den Haag, having secured the title, is poised to return to the Eredivisie.

In third place overall is Vitesse, who were relegated as recently as September due to a revocation of their professional licence but have rallied impressively to claw their way back into promotion contention. However, being a mere two points shy of the top spot in period 4 may not be as advantageous as it seems.

FC Den Bosch has officially finished ninth in the overall standings, which does not ordinarily qualify them for the play-offs. However, should ADO Den Haag, Willem II, or Almere City FC finish above Vitesse in the fourth-period standings, they will enter the play-offs, as all those clubs are already secured in either the play-offs or Eredivisie.

Since the fourth-period spot is not awarded to the team ranked fourth in that period, it will go to the highest-placed side in the overall standings, which is FC Den Bosch. Jong PSV, being an Under-21 side, is ineligible for promotion.

Having FC Den Bosch face ADO Den Haag in the last round of the regular season means that for FC Den Bosch, losing will provide a more favourable outcome, as a defeat would keep Vitesse lower than ADO Den Haag in the fourth-period standings.

To secure their play-off position, FC Den Bosch requires Willem II to triumph over Dirk Kuyt’s FC Dordrecht, and ideally, Almere City FC to secure a win against VVV-Venlo on Friday.

Given that Vitesse faces a challenging away match against SC Cambuur, FC Den Bosch has been handed a slim chance on the final day of the regular season.

‘I don’t play football to lose’

Although a loss to ADO Den Haag could benefit them, FC Den Bosch players strongly oppose the notion of intentionally losing a match.

“I play to win. I’m an athlete at the highest level, and I always want to win, even against ADO,” stated FC Den Bosch goalkeeper Pepijn van de Merbel in an interview with ESPN. “Vitesse must first win their own game, away at Cambuur, which I believe will be a tough match.”

Team captain Jeffrey Fortes echoed Van de Merbel’s sentiments and further asserted that he would not participate in a match where losing was the plan: “I understand the situation, but I think I’m the last person you should ask about this. I don’t play football to lose. That’s just my outlook on life. So the reality is simple: if that’s the intention, then don’t play me. I can’t comprehend how you enter a match knowing you’re not meant to win,” he informed ESPN.

The KNVB, the Dutch football association, has issued a statement emphasising that it expects all teams to play fairly and to strive for victory. “We expect all participants in a match to aim to win. Beyond that, we cannot comment on this situation.”

All matches in the concluding round of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie will commence at 20:00 CET on Friday, April 24th.