More Dutch Eredivisie football clubs have come out in support of Ajax’ calls for this season’s competition to be abandoned.

AZ of Alkmaar, currently level on Ajax with points, and fourth-placed PSV Eindhoven have both backed the suggestion, as have PEC Zwolle, ADO Den Haag and several other clubs.

However, Rotterdam club Feyenoord, six points behind the two leaders, says it supports the the Dutch football association line.

The KNVB says it hopes to complete the competition over the summer, but with all organised events banned until June 1 at the earliest, many clubs say the move would be irresponsible.

‘We consider the current corona situation to be so serious that playing the rest of the games in an empty stadium is less important,’ AZ director Robert Eenhoorn said on the club website. ‘And there are still too many uncertainties about how coronavirus will develop.’

Former player and TV pundit, Theo Janssen said AZ’s position in particular is special, given the club has a real chance of taking the league title. ‘As a football fan, I could understand AZ saying that they wanted to keep going. They are level on points with Ajax and the finishing line is in sight.

‘The club is making a real gesture by saying they want to end the season,’ he said. ‘They are showing there are more important things in the world than football, which is, of course, the case. But it could cost AZ a lot of money.’

Video conference

The KNVB plans to hold a video conference with all Eredivisie and first division teams next Tuesday in an effort to reach an agreement. Broadcasters, including Fox Sports and supporters organisations have also been invited to take part.

According to AP, Uefa and the European top clubs organisation ECA have urged national league organisers not to halt the competitions early.

If this does happen, it will have implications for who gets tickets to next season’s European competition, AP quotes a letter from Uefa as saying.