KNVB faces court over Sunday football ban in amateur leagues

The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) faces legal action from amateur clubs over plans to end separate Saturday and Sunday leagues in lower amateur divisions. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in Utrecht.

Eight clubs form the Kerngroep Weekendvoetbal, with 130 more funding a broader lawsuit filed this spring against the KNVB. The umbrella group seeks urgent clarity before the governing body finalises new league structures after the summer.

The dispute centres on the KNVB’s plan to mix Saturday and Sunday clubs in the Tweede Klasse and Derde Klasse from the 2026–27 season. Currently, mixed scheduling operates only from the Tweede Divisie down to the Eerste Klasse. The bond argues that declining Sunday participation—down 700 teams over twelve years—makes regional competitions unviable on Sundays in some areas.

Stan Raben, chairman of SV Grol and spokesman for the Kerngroep, says an internal survey of 400 clubs found 74 % oppose mixed scheduling. Of 2 164 amateur clubs in the Netherlands, 527 are designated as principled Saturday-only clubs, mainly due to religious convictions. These clubs were guaranteed decades ago they would never be forced to play on Sunday.

Gijs van den Broek, chairman of VV Scherpenzeel, explains why his club avoids Sunday travel routes. “We take a detour out of the village on Sunday away days so we don’t pass churches or processions. Sunday football is not appreciated here.” Two board members refuse to attend Sunday matches on principle, and some players join clubs specifically to avoid Sunday fixtures.

Jos op ’t Einde, chairman of Groene Ster, says mixed scheduling forces Sunday clubs to play late Saturday afternoons after youth football finishes. “We want to compete at a high level, but is it fair that Saturday clubs hold the power? How much weight should faith carry? I’d like the judge to hear that.”

The Kerngroep argues that mixed scheduling disrupts club culture, reduces volunteer availability, and cuts bar revenue when matches shift to 18:00 slots. Stan Raben proposes a compromise: Sunday clubs should only be mixed with neutral Saturday clubs, not principled Saturday-only clubs.

The KNVB states it has listened to objections and will prioritise preference days over travel distances. It adds that many regions will retain separate Saturday and Sunday pools where local demand exists. Nonetheless, Tuesday’s hearing could suspend the decision, delaying mixed scheduling until at least 2027.