Why FC Den Bosch Need to Lose to ADO Den Haag to Reach Eredivisie Play-Offs

‘I Don’t Play to Lose’ says FC Den Bosch reject tanking despite play-off math
 

‘I don’t play football to lose’ - FC Den Bosch dismiss tanking talk as play-off scenario depends on losing to ADO Den Haag Friday.

FC Den Bosch reject throwing game vs ADO Den Haag despite play-off math favoring a loss...

In a bizarre twist to the Dutch Eerste Divisie promotion race, FC Den Bosch could boost their play-off chances by losing Friday’s game against ADO Den Haag.

The Eredivisie promotion race comes down to one final spot. ADO Den Haag have already won the Keuken Kampioen Divisie title and SC Cambuur have secured second place. The last ticket will be decided in the promotion play-offs, where six Keuken Kampioen Divisie sides and one Eredivisie team battle for promotion.

Period Four Standings

Willem II top the period four table, with ADO Den Haag close behind. Third overall, Willem II have already locked up a play-off spot, while champions ADO Den Haag are already promoted back to the Eredivisie.

Vitesse’s Unlikely Revival

Vitesse sit third in period four, just two points off the top. The club looked finished last September when their professional licence was revoked, but they recovered to push for promotion. Now, being that close to first may not be as helpful as it once seemed.

FC Den Bosch will finish ninth in the regular standings, which alone isn’t enough for a play-off spot. They qualify if two of ADO Den Haag, Willem II, or Almere City FC end above Vitesse in the fourth-period table, since those clubs are already in the play-offs or promoted.

The fourth-period ticket isn’t awarded to the fourth-place team. Instead, it goes to the highest-ranked regular season side not already qualified: FC Den Bosch. Jong PSV are ineligible for promotion as an U21 team.

FC Den Bosch face ADO Den Haag Friday in the final regular-season round. Because Den Bosch need ADO to finish above Vitesse in period four, a loss actually helps them. Defeat would keep Vitesse below ADO in the period standings and hand Den Bosch the play-off spot.

To secure a play-off spot, FC Den Bosch need Willem II to beat Dirk Kuyt’s 10th-placed FC Dordrecht on Friday, and ideally Almere City FC to beat VVV-Venlo.

  

With Vitesse facing a tough trip to SC Cambuur, FC Den Bosch have an unlikely lifeline on the final day of the regular season.

Den Bosch Reject Throwing the Game

Although a loss to ADO Den Haag would benefit them, FC Den Bosch insist they have no intention of throwing the game.

“I play to win. I’m a top-level athlete, and I always want to win, even against ADO,” FC Den Bosch goalkeeper Pepijn van de Merbel told ESPN. “Vitesse have to win their own match first, away at Cambuur. I think that’ll be a tough game.”

FC Den Bosch captain Jeffrey Fortes joins Van de Merbel and takes it even further, stating he won't play if the goal is to lose to ADO: “I understand all that, but I think I’m the last person you should be asking this. I don't play football to lose. That’s my approach to life. So the reality is very simple: then you shouldn’t play me. I don’t know how you go into a match knowing: I’m not allowed to win this one,” he told ESPN.

The KNVB, the Dutch football association, has made it clear in a statement that it expects teams to play fairly and as expected. “We expect everyone who takes part in a match to want to win that match. Beyond that, we cannot speculate on this situation.”

All final-round Keuken Kampioen Divisie matches kick off at 20:00 CET on Friday, April 24.