If Ajax makes it to the UEFA Conference League football playoffs at the end of the season, they’ll need to move. The management of the Dutch music group The Toppers has stated that they are unable to simply reschedule their May 31 concerts at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
After Ajax’s defeat to rivals AZ on Sunday, there was a greater chance that they would make the playoffs. Six points separate fourth place, which is the final berth that guarantees automatic entry into European football. The fifth through eighth-place teams advance to the postseason.
“The concert cannot be moved. Benno de Leeuw, manager of the Toppers, stated that the production was too large for it. Even better, there are already dozens of us working on it. It is not possible.”
De Leeuw is curious to know how Ajax will handle the situation. He claims that they have a rental deal for the stadium with the ArenA. As a result, the conversations are hidden from the Toppers. Since then, there has been no communication.
“They’ll still be holding out hope for a top four finish. But honestly, who could have predicted that Ajax would find himself in this predicament? You don’t even think about it from an Ajax standpoint.”
If Ajax ends fifth, arch-rival Feyenoord might lend a helping hand. In the event that the Rotterdammers win the KNVB Cup, the fifth-place team will automatically go to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, moving the remaining open European berths one spot.
