Pro League announces reform of Belgian football divisions
The general assembly of the Pro League reached a decision Friday afternoon about the reform of the Belgian football divisions. 16 teams will play in the first division, 1A, in the 2023-2024 season, and up to three will be relegated. The points halving in play-offs 1 and 2 will be maintained.
In the new format, the first six teams of the regular league will play in a champions' play-off for the title and four of the five European tickets. The next six teams, placed 7 to 12, will play for the final European ticket. Play-downs between the last four decide on relegation: the last two drop out immediately, the other plays a deciding match against the third placed team in the second division, 1B.
From 2023-2024, there'll be a points halving in two play-offs. According to CEO Lorin Parys, this came at the clear request of the clubs: "I saw the sporting value in both formulas, but it is the clubs that decided. They wanted to make Play-offs 1 and 2 sufficiently exciting," Parys explained.
16 teams will play in the second division from 2023-2024, including four U23 teams. At the top of 1B, the first two teams in the standings will go straight up, and two teams will be relegated every year.
In the Belgian Cup, top clubs in the round of 16 will be able to play each other. "This gives the smaller clubs a bigger chance to get further in the cup and write a real cup story," says Parys. Clubs in European competitions only enter during the quarter-finals. Finally, the semi-finals will be decided in one match.
(TOM)
Club Brugge celebrates after winning the 2021-2022 'Jupiler Pro League'. - © BELGA PHOTO BRUNO FAHY