Legal clarity enables mixed Saturday‑Sunday amateur leagues

A Dutch provisional judge issued a ruling today in the short case brought by Kerngroep Weekendvoetbal, rejecting the group’s challenge to the KNVB’s plan to permit mixed Saturday‑Sunday competition in the second and third amateur divisions from the upcoming season.

The ruling was delivered by a voorzieningenrechter, the judge handling provisional matters in Dutch courts. The court dismissed all claims raised by Kerngroep Weekendvoetbal, confirming the KNVB’s authority to implement mixed classification.

The Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB) welcomed the decision, stating that it brings legal certainty to the upcoming season. The association also expressed regret that it had to confront several clubs in court.

The KNVB highlighted a persistent decline in the number of Sunday‑based teams, which increasingly hampers the creation of balanced regional leagues. This trend threatens the attractiveness of competitions across many districts.

To address the issue, the KNVB will, where necessary, place Saturday and Sunday clubs together in a single competition for the second and third amateur tiers. The federation stressed that this measure is a tool, not an end in itself, to preserve strong regional contests.

The governing body affirmed its responsibility to provide solutions that serve all member clubs. It pledged to keep dialogue open with associations and to monitor field‑level signals throughout the season.

According to the KNVB, the competition tables will be compiled immediately so they can be released in early July. Clubs assigned to mixed pools will receive practical support to prepare for the new format.