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Belgium could overturn decision to cancel rest of the season

Belgium's Pro League, who will meet today for the first time since a decision to cancel the rest of the season, are expected to put off formal ratification of that decision, leaving the door open for a possible resumption of the campaign.

The meeting of the league's 24 member clubs has already been postponed twice, fuelling media speculation that the decision made by its board at the start of the month to end the campaign could yet be overturned.

The teams are scheduled to meet via video conference today but Belgian media reported yesterday that a decision to ratify the cancellation of the season would be postponed.

Belgium, which has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, was the first league in Europe to call off the remainder of its season due to the crisis.

Seventeen of its financially-strapped clubs clamoured for the campaign to be declared over in an open letter to the league.

Runaway league leaders Club Brugge were declared champions but other decisions around promotion and relegation, as well as places in next season's European club competitions, were referred to a five-man working group.

The league's plans have been muddied by the failure of Belgium's government to provide clarity on when sports events might be able to restart after a stringent lockdown.

Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said after seven hours of discussions last Friday that Belgium could tighten restrictions or delay easing them, depending on the health situation. - REUTERS

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