Why I don't agree with AZ

Why I don't agree with AZ

07/10/2020

In the first place, I find the argument that the KNVB's method is not objective unconvincing. AZ and Ajax have both played 25 games, same matches at home and both have encountered each opponent at least once. They have indeed not encountered exactly the same opponents, but to say that the method is not objective is too far of a stretch for me.
AZ reproaches the KNVB for counting the goal difference because this contains rules that do not provide for decisions based on an unplayed competition, but it seems to me much more logical to stick to these rules as much as possible and not to introduce something that it is never relevant for regular competitions, namely the matches between specific clubs.
If you still want to go along with AZ's reasoning, why use the matchpoints for the list, but not the goal difference. The same reason AZ uses to disqualify the use of goal difference applies to the matchpoints as well, these are also based on matches that were not the same for AZ and Ajax, so it is subjective. So if you go along with this reasoning, AZ and Ajax (and all other clubs) can also make the same argument for the matchpoints.
AZ pretends that a decision based on the matches between AZ and Ajax is the only objective method to make a decision with an equal number of points, but this is of course not the case at all. You might as well argue that in the event of an equal number of points the decision is made based on a score based on only the matches played by both clubs. In this case, that would be 19 matches and Ajax 44 and AZ have 40 points (despite AZ's double victory in the mutual encounters). I am not claiming this is a method that should be used, but more indicate that there are different objective methods, probably for every situation you can imagine there are objective methods you can use to argue a decision either way, in case of equal number of matchpoints.
The KNVB had to make a difficult decision and in my opinion has chosen the most obvious option, which meets all guidelines set by UEFA. AZ interprets everything for its own benefit, but if you look critically at their arguments, there is much more reason to criticize their proposal than the current decision of the KNVB. In addition, AZ is making a fool of themselves by pretending that the KNVB has deliberately disadvantaged them, for which there is no basis at all.

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