How has it come to this? The cause is multifaceted.

Thanks to the recent successes in Russia and the 1st place on the world rankings of our Red Devils, foreign eyes have naturally been more focused on Belgium. Our domestic league is also relatively highly regarded. This is further emphasised by the UEFA club coefficients. Thanks to the European performances of our clubs, our country currently holds are spectable 8th place.

For all these reasons, the Jupiler Pro League is considered a good and challenging training ground for promising young players. They can develop as professional footballers there, attract attention, and eventually be sold at a profit to wealthy clubs in the biggest European leagues.

Not unimportantly, Belgium still offers the ideal environment to set up such a transfer system. On the one hand, there is the favourable National Social Security (RSZ) regime for professional athletes, and on the other hand, unlike other countries, there are no strict guidelines regarding the number of foreign players allowed and their minimum wage. This allows clubs to bring a relatively large number of players from poorer countries to Belgium at a low cost, hoping that one breaks through and repays the entire investment through a lucrative transfer.

Ethical questions can be raised about the many other young foreign players who do not succeed and are subsequently abandoned by clubs and agents. Also, about the many Belgian youth footballers whose opportunities in the first team disappear as a result. And about the numerous supporters who no longer recognise their own club.

In the boardrooms where decisions about such take overs are made, there is little concern over these matters. The main issue with Belgian executives is the financial situation they have manoeuvred their club into. In their pursuit of sporting success, many boardrooms are dominated by an irresistible urge to spend more money than is coming in 'because that is necessary if you want to assemble a squad for that level.'

Often, they manage to keep their heads above water for a few years, but such a reckless policy inevitably ends in disaster. The result is a loss-making club with a looming mountain of debt, making it an easy prey for foreign buyers. That once beautiful club has now literally been reduced to a number—an attractive registration number that grants the right to participate in a league where players can be lucratively traded. This is what the new foreign owner aims for, and the entire operation of the club will be geared towards that.

My question then is: was it all truly worth it? Is it really a necessity to operate at a certain level? Has it ever occurred in such a boardroom to focus on finances and avoid spending more than can reasonably be expected to come in?

If you naturally drop to a lower level because of this, then so be it. You are not just any company, let alone a financial plaything. You are a sports club with a rich history, a social role, a youth programme, and a group of supporters. That deserves more respect.