SPFL precedent set as Belgian season move quashed by arbitration court

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The decision to end the Belgian league season and relegate Waasland-Beveren has been overturned by the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport.

In a move which is sure to have the SPFL nervous, the CBAS has now overturned the decision to relegate Beveren (made on 15^th May) and quashed the decision to declare Club Brugge champions, according to the Daily Record.

This follows on from the decision to overturn the relegation of Amiens and Toulouse in France, a move which has set an interesting precedent across Europe.

Ligue 1 are considering expanding their league to 22 teams for next season.

Similarly to the situation in Scotland, the governing body in Belgium launched the new football calendar before legal proceedings had been concluded.

This decision has thrown the situation in Belgium up in the air with Waasland-Beveren spokesman Martijn De Jonghe admitting relief but that they do not know what happens next.

“We never gave up hope ourselves. The persistent wins: the BAS decided that Waasland-Beveren was wrongly demoted,” said De Jonghe [Scottish Sun].

“We found it very unusual that the calendar has already been presented, while legal proceedings were still pending.

“This is still a small victory, although we do not know what is yet to come.”

The decision comes with the SPFL locked in a legal battle with Hearts and Patrick Thistle following the conclusion of the Scottish domestic league season.

The fight will now go to the SFA’s court of arbitration, but the two clubs can also appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland if the decision does not go their way.

Given the situation in France and Belgium, it doesn’t exactly look promising for the SPFL.

Rangers demanded the suspension of Neil Doncaster whilst an independent investigation was carried out into the handling of the now infamous end of season vote in April.