"If we don't succeed in making smaller leagues more competitive the question becomes whether top clubs will still want to play against us"

In a process two years underway, top Belgian and Dutch clubs have now invited other stakeholders to take knowledge of findings regarding the potential of a league merger.

Belgian Pro League and KRC Genk chairman Peter Croonen says the Beneleague would enable clubs to increasingly challenge the 'Big Five' leagues on the European stage.

He and his peers now face the challenge of convincing smaller clubs they, too, would benefit from the idea – and not be reduced to the ecosystem's outer perimeters.

In addition, Croonen believes it is crucial for both Belgian and Dutch clubs to keep their current respective European tickets for the proposal to work.