The Latest: Dutch cancel rest of Eredivisie with no champ

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The rest of the Dutch soccer league has been canceled and leading team Ajax won’t be declared the champion.

The Eredivisie is the first top-tier European league to end its season prematurely because of the coronavirus crisis. Belgium could ratify an end to its season on Monday.

Ajax was level on points with second-placed AZ Alkmaar but ahead on goal difference when the league was suspended last month. The Dutch soccer federation, known as the KNVB, says Ajax is considered to be on top of the final standings but won’t be awarded a 35th national title.

The KNVB adds it will allocate Champions League and Europa League spots by the current standings.

Among the clubs to lose out is Utrecht, which was sixth, three points behind fifth-placed Willem II, which occupies the last Europa League spot. However, Utrecht had played one game less and had superior goal difference.

There will be no promotion or relegation.

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Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo expects there to be a 2020 major league season.

Baseball has been on hold since last month because of the coronavirus pandemic, right along with most sports and other aspects of everyday life.

Rizzo said on a conference call with reporters Friday: “I’m optimistic, as is the commissioner, that we’ll have baseball in 2020. I’m upbeat about that. The most important thing is to do it in the right way and the safest manner we can. But I believe that we will have baseball.”

The GM said the owners of the World Series champions have committed to giving Nationals employees full salary and benefits through the end of May.

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The president of the French soccer federation wants...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/The-Latest-Cricket-in-England-on-hold-amid-15223139.php