There have been some hard decisions to make in the world of sports due to the ongoing health crisis from COVID-19.
Much of the talk in the European football world has been about how long to push back the various seasons, and what could be a workable plan, given that the virus is still on the rise around the continent.
Thursday, the Belgian Jupiler League became the first in Europe to put an end to the current season.
By a unanimous decision from the Board of Directors of the Pro League, the 2019-20 season is now over, with the current leaders, Club Brugge, declared the champion. AA Gent, which finished second, will also be a team to advance into the UEFA Champions League for the next campaign, whenever it is played.
The decision still has to be ratified by the General Assembly in two weeks (April 15), but that is thought to be a mere formality.
This decision could put pressure on other leagues around Europe, especially in places such as Italy and Spain, which have been the hardest hit by COVID-19.
The Premier League in England has still not made any decision about when and where the rest of the season can be played, if at all. With the amount of money the league generates in television deals around the world, the league is trying to find a balance between player safety and finishing the campaign.
But at some point, if this continues into the summer, there may be no choice but to end the season.