Eredivisie

Fortuna Sittard ineligible for potential European play-off spot due to lack of UEFA licence

Fortuna Sittard will not be eligible to participate in this season’s Eredivisie European play-offs. The club does not hold a UEFA licence for the 2025/26 campaign and is therefore unable to claim a potential end-of-season play-off spot, should they finish in a qualifying position.

UEFA licence not submitted

The Limburg side failed to submit a UEFA licence application before the April 8, 2025 deadline. Fortuna did not meet all the necessary requirements, including providing an external auditor’s statement in accordance with UEFA regulations.

Play-off spot set to pass on

With two rounds remaining, Fortuna currently sit ninth in the Eredivisie table. Normally, the sides finishing between fifth and eighth contest the European play-offs. However, as KNVB Cup winners Go Ahead Eagles have already secured a European place while sitting seventh, the play-off berth for this season is extended to ninth place.

As Fortuna are ineligible and could potentially finish eighth or ninth, any play-off spot they might have earned will be passed on to the next eligible club.

ECV: ‘Every club should apply for a UEFA licence’

Eredivisie C.V. is calling for a structural solution to prevent similar situations in the future, says Jan de Jong, CEO of Eredivisie C.V.:

“To prevent these undesirable situations in the future, Eredivisie C.V. believes every club in the Eredivisie should apply for and obtain a UEFA licence. This would ensure that everyone knows exactly what they are playing for and would contribute to greater financial stability within football, which are both key priorities for us. It would also prevent any disruption to the competition.”

Intense battle for final play-off spots

Fortuna have been battling all season to secure a top-half finish and appeared well-placed to challenge for a play-off spot. Just three points separate eighth from 13th in the standings, setting up a thrilling finale in the race for the final two play-off places.

With six points still available from the remaining fixtures, sc Heerenveen, Sparta Rotterdam, PEC Zwolle, FC Groningen and NEC will now compete to join AZ and FC Twente in the fight for a place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Eredivisie table

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Ajax
Almere City FC
AZ
FC Groningen
FC Twente
FC Utrecht
Feyenoord
Fortuna Sittard
Go Ahead Eagles
Heracles Almelo
N.E.C. Nijmegen
NAC Breda
PEC Zwolle
PSV
RKC Waalwijk
sc Heerenveen
Sparta Rotterdam
Willem II
# Club PL W | L | D GF-GA GD Pts
1 PSV 34 25 | 5 | 4 103-39 +64 79
2 Ajax 34 24 | 4 | 6 67-32 +35 78
3 Feyenoord 34 20 | 6 | 8 76-38 +38 68
4 FC Utrecht 34 18 | 6 | 10 62-45 +17 64
5 AZ 34 16 | 9 | 9 58-37 +21 57
6 FC Twente 34 15 | 10 | 9 62-49 +13 54
7 Go Ahead Eagles 34 14 | 11 | 9 57-55 +2 51
8 N.E.C. Nijmegen 34 12 | 15 | 7 51-46 +5 43
9 sc Heerenveen 34 12 | 15 | 7 42-57 -15 43
# Club PL W | L | D GF-GA GD Pts
10 PEC Zwolle 34 10 | 13 | 11 43-51 -8 41
11 Fortuna Sittard 34 11 | 15 | 8 37-54 -17 41
12 Sparta Rotterdam 34 9 | 13 | 12 39-43 -4 39
13 FC Groningen 34 10 | 15 | 9 40-53 -13 39
14 Heracles Almelo 34 9 | 14 | 11 42-63 -21 38
15 NAC Breda 34 8 | 17 | 9 34-58 -24 33
16 Willem II 34 6 | 20 | 8 34-56 -22 26
17 RKC Waalwijk 34 6 | 21 | 7 44-74 -30 25
18 Almere City FC 34 4 | 20 | 10 23-64 -41 22

Legend

UEFA Champions League (league phase)
UEFA Champions League (3rd qualifying round)
UEFA Europa League (2nd qualifying round)
Cup winner UEFA Europa League (league phase)
Play Offs UEFA Europa Conference League (2nd qualifying round)
Keuken Kampioen Play Offs
Keuken Kampioen Divisie (relegated)

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