If Belgium can declare their champions then so can we
BELGIUM may not be many people’s dream destination for a holiday (remember those?) but by rights it really should be as there is much to recommend.
The weather is most agreeable, the scenery pleasant, the architecture breathtaking, the people friendly, the history fascinating, the cuisine delicious and the beer, which should always, always be drunk in moderation as it packs quite a punch, out of this world.
There are few greater pleasures in life than tucking into a plate of moules-frites with an ice-cold glass of the local pilsner to wash it down in a pavement café on the Grand Place in Brussels and watching the world go by on a balmy summer’s evening.
Strangely, as it is not a country that is particularly synonymous with the Royal and Ancient game, the golf is absolutely sensational as well. You will do well to find a better course than Royal Zoute in Knokke-Heist on the North Sea coast anywhere on the planet.
The Belgians, of course, know a thing or two about football too.
Nobody in Scotland needs to be told just how adept their Golden Generation – Vincent
Kompany, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku,
Dries Mertens et al – are at the beautiful game.
Most members of the Tartan Army are still doing their very best to forget the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Roberto Martinez’s star-studded side last year. Our boys took a hell of a beating. Two in fact. They were lucky to get nil.
Whenever the finals of that tournament go ahead, and it is to be hoped the coronavirus pandemic is a distant if unpleasant memory next summer, the top-placed team in the current FIFA world rankings will be fancied by many to triumph.
But anybody who grew up in the 1980s – when the Red Devils reached the final of
Euro ’80 and the semi-finals of Mexico ’86 – has long known what formidable opponents they are.
The likes of Nico Claesen, Jan Cuelemans, Eric Gerets, Enzo Scifo, Erwin Vandenbergh and Franky Vercauteren were every bit as revered as Hazard and Co in their day and possibly even more successful.
Alas, their clubs, of whom Anderlecht, Club Brugge and Standard Liege are the most renowned, may not, due to the size of the population and therefore the broadcasting deal, trouble the latter stages of the Europa League or Champions League these days.
But Belgium is a serious football nation.
So when it was announced yesterday that the Jupiler
Pro League had cancelled the season and awarded the title to Brugge – who were 15 points clear of Gent with one league game and 10 play-off matches still to be played – it was little wonder Scotland and the rest of Europe sat up and took notice.
The Highland League declared Brora Rangers preference is to present the trophy to the team with the most points after 38 games.
But this has certainly set a precedent. Expect more leagues to follow suit in the days and weeks ahead. It makes far more sense than the alternatives in the current climate of confusion and uncertainty.
The statement that accompanied the Pro League decision – which has to be ratified at a general meeting of clubs on April 15 – gave an indication of the difficulties incumbent in restarting play after the suspension has been lifted and before next season gets underway.
“The situation does not allow us to know if and when a resumption of collective training can be planned,” the statement read.
“A resumption of competition could not exclude the risks to the health of players, employees and all those involved in the organisation of matches. The possible contamination of a player or a core of players risks influencing the sporting development of the rest of the competition in an unacceptable manner.”
It is interesting and probably quite wise that no call has to date been made on promotion or relegation – which are far more contentious and potentially litigious matters than awarding the team that is 15 points clear the title.
As well as being a fan of Belgium for a break and a fan of the brand of football their national team play, I am now a fan of the Pro League for having the bravery and common sense to take the lead and act in these troubling times as their counterparts across Europe dither.
Anger and outrage will greet whatever choice the
SPFL finally make, but they could do far worse than follow Belgium’s lead.