Belgian football league system

The Belgian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in Belgium.

Men's system

Below shows how the current system works. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (which often differs radically from its official name) and number of clubs is given. Each division promotes to the division(s) that lie directly above them and relegates to the division(s) that lie directly below them. This will be in use until the 2015–16 season.

Level

League(s)/Division(s)

1

Belgian First Division
(Jupiler Pro League)
16 clubs

2

Belgian Second Division
(Belgacom League)
18 clubs

3

Belgian Third Division
(Nationwide league)
36 clubs divided in 2 series of 18

4

Belgian Fourth Division
(Nationwide league)
64 clubs divided in 4 series of 16

5

West Flanders 1 Provinciaal 16 clubs
East Flanders 1 Provinciaal 16 clubs
Antwerp Eerste Provinciale 16 clubs
Limburg Eerste Provinciale 16 clubs
Brabant Eerste Provinciale 16 clubs
Hainaut 1 Provinciale 16 clubs
Namur 1 Provinciale 16 clubs
Luxembourg 1 Provinciale 16 clubs
Liège I Provinciale 16 clubs
(All divisions run in parallel)

6

West Flanders 2 Provinciaal (2 parallel divisions)
East Flanders 2 Provinciaal (2 parallel divisions)
Antwerp Tweede Provinciale (2 parallel divisions)
Limburg Tweede Provinciale (3 parallel divisions)
Brabant Tweede Provinciale (3 parallel divisions)
Hainaut 2 Provinciale (3 parallel divisions)
Namur 2 Provinciale (2 parallel divisions)
Luxembourg 2 Provinciale (3 parallel divisions)
Liège II Provinciale (3 parallel divisions)

7

West Flanders 3 Provinciaal (3 parallel divisions)
East Flanders 3 Provinciaal (5 parallel divisions)
Antwerp Derde Provinciale (3 parallel divisions)
Limburg Derde Provinciale (3 parallel divisions)
Brabant Derde Provinciale (6 parallel divisions)
Hainaut 3 Provinciale (5 parallel divisions)
Namur 3 Provinciale (3 parallel divisions)
Luxembourg 3 Provinciale (5 parallel divisions) (Lowest in Luxembourg)
Liège III Provinciale (5 parallel divisions)

8

West Flanders 4 Provinciaal (3 parallel divisions)
East Flanders 4 Provinciaal (5 parallel divisions)
Antwerp Vierde Provinciale (5 parallel divisions)
Limburg Vierde Provinciale (4 parallel divisions)
Brabant Vierde Provinciale (9 parallel divisions)
Hainaut 4 Provinciale (8 parallel divisions)
Namur 4 Provinciale (4 parallel divisions)
Liège IV Provinciale (6 parallel divisions)

Changes in men's system


The league system underwent restructuring which was approved by the Royal Belgian Football Association. One important step was the introduction of a national fifth level for the first time. Its implementation will take effect from the 2016–17 season.[1]

Level

League(s)/Division(s)

1

Belgian First Division A
16 clubs – 1 relegation

2

Belgian First Division B
8 clubs – 1 promotion, 1 relegation

3

Belgian First Amateur Division
16 clubs – 1 promotion, 3 relegations

4

Belgian Second Amateur Division Flanders
32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16 – 2 promotions, 4 relegations

Belgian Second Amateur Division Wallonia
16 clubs – 1 promotion, 2 relegations

5

Belgian Third Amateur Division Flanders
32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16 – 4 promotions, 3 relegations

Belgian Third Amateur Division Wallonia
32 clubs divided in 2 series of 16 – 2 promotions, 3 relegations

6 to 9

Belgian Provincial leagues

Women's system

From 2012/13 to 2014/15 the top teams played in the BeNe League, a joint league with clubs from the Netherlands. The Super League was created in 2015.[2]

Level

League(s)/Division(s)

1

Super League
8 clubs

2

First Division
14 clubs

3

Second Division
(Nationwide league)
14 clubs

4

Third division
(Nationwide league)
28 clubs divided in 2 series of 14

5+

Provinciaal leagues

References

  1. ↑ "LA RÉFORME DU FOOT BELGE À PARTIR DE LA SAISON 2016-2017 APPROUVÉE: VOICI À QUOI VA RESSEMBLER LE PAYSAGE FOOTBALLISTIQUE BELGE". sudinfo.be (in French). 15 June 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.vrouwenteam.be/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3342:super-league-vrouwenvoetbal-gaat-van-start-in-2015-16
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