2023–24_Belgian_Division_2

2023–24 Belgian Division 2

2023–24 Belgian Division 2

Football league season


The 2023–24 Belgian Division 2 was the eighth season of the division in its current format, placed at the fourth-tier of football in Belgium.

Quick Facts Season, Dates ...

Team changes

In

Out

Merger

  • Before the start of the season it became known that D2 ACFF club Stade Disonais would merge with RCS Verviers who were playing in the 2nd Provincial Division in Liège to form Stade Verviétois.[1]

Belgian Division 2 VV A

Locations of the 2023–24 Belgian Division 2 VV A teams

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: vbal4
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Goal difference in away matches; 7) Away goals scored.[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. As champions, Eendracht Aalst would have earned promotion but on 23 May 2024 (after completion of the season and playoffs) the club was refused a license for the Belgian National Division 1. As a result, second-placed Ninove (who had been eliminated in the playoffs) were promoted instead. [2] A few days later on 27 May 2024, the club was also refused a license for the Belgian Division 2 and Belgian Division 3 and hence will be relegated to the Belgian Provincial Leagues.[3]
  2. Dikkelvenne, Voorde-Appelterre, Oudenaarde, and Oostkamp all would have qualified for the Promotion play-offs VV yet were skipped by the next eligible team due to the fact they had chosen not to apply for a national football license.
  3. Due to the fact that Aalst was refused a license, Petegem was ultimately spared of relegation.[3]

Results

More information Home \ Away, AAL ...
Source: vbal4 (in Dutch)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

    Period Champions

    • 1st Period: Aalst (20 Points (out of 30))
    • 2nd Period: Oostkamp (25 Points (out of 36))
    • 3rd Period: Aalst (24 Points (out of 36))

    Belgian Division 2 VV B

    Locations of the 2023–24 Belgian Division 2 VV B teams

    League table

    More information Pos, Team ...
    Source: vbal4
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Goal difference in away matches; 7) Away goals scored.[5]
    (C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

    Results

    More information Home \ Away, BEL ...
    Source: vbal4 (in Dutch)
    Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

      Period Champions

      Belgian Division 2 ACFF

      Acren Lessines
      Acren Lessines
      Hamoir
      Hamoir
      Verlaine
      Verlaine
      Stockay
      Stockay
      Warnant
      Warnant
      Ganshoren
      Ganshoren
      Jette
      Jette
      Binche
      Binche
      Verviers
      Verviers
      Rochefort
      Rochefort
      La Calamine
      La Calamine
      Locations of the 2023–24 Belgian Division 2 ACFF teams

      League table

      More information Pos, Team ...
      Source: vbal4
      Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Goal difference in away matches; 7) Away goals scored.[6]
      (C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
      Notes:
      1. After conclusion of the play-offs, Stockay and Union SG B were also promoted. Stockay as highest-placed finisher with a license not already promoted, Union SG B as highest eligible U23 team.

      Results

      More information Home \ Away, MON ...
      Source: vbal4 (in Dutch)
      Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

      Period Champions

      • 1st Period: Mons (30 Points)
      • 2nd Period: Mons (25 Points)
      • 3rd Period: Mons (30 Points)

        Promotion play-offs

        Promotion play-offs VV

        The play-offs feature eight teams, the two second-place finishers in divisions VV A and VV B as well as from each division the winners of each of the three periods (for periods won by overall champions or runners-up the highest team not yet qualified takes the spot instead). The eight teams play a knockout tournament, with all teams unseeded when setting up the draw. Due to the reform of the Belgian National Division 1 (into a separate VV and ACFF division) and uncertainty about the number of VV teams to be relegated from the Challenger Pro League, it was uncertain at the start of the playoffs how many teams would be promoted. In any case, at most one U23 team would be promoted.

        Qualified teams:

        • Hasselt (runner-up division VV B)
        • Jong Cercle (highest place eligible finisher (5th) not directly qualified from division VV A)
        • Jong Essevee (2nd highest place eligible finisher (9th) not directly qualified from division VV A)
        • Jong KV Mechelen (winner period 1 division VV B)
        • Lyra-Lierse Berlaar (highest place eligible finisher (3rd) not directly qualified from division VV B)
        • Merelbeke (winner period 3 division VV A)
        • Ninove (runner-up division VV A)
        • Rupel Boom (highest place eligible finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division VV B)
        Round 1Round 2Placing 1st/2nd
        11 May 2024
        Jong Cercle1
        Jong KV Mechelen023 May 2024 (Cancelled)
        Jong Cercle
        11 May 2024Hasselt
        Hasselt1
        Ninove026 May 2024 (Cancelled)
        Winner Round 2 Match 1
        12 May 2024Winner Round 2 Match 2
        Merelbeke2
        Jong Essevee123 May 2024 (Cancelled)
        MerelbekePlacing 3rd/4th
        12 May 2024Lyra-Lierse Berlaar26 May 2024 (Cancelled)
        Lyra-Lierse Berlaar5Loser Round 2 Match 1
        Rupel Boom0Loser Round 2 Match 2

        Round 1

        More information Jong Cercle, 1–0 ...

        More information Hasselt, 1–0 ...

        More information Merelbeke, 2–1 (a.e.t.) ...

        More information Lyra-Lierse Berlaar, 5–0 ...

        After completion of round 1, it was nearly certain that the four winners would all be promoted, as six spots were available for VV teams with the first two spots taken by champions Eendracht Aalst and Belisia Bilzen, and the four round 1 winners included only one U23 team. On 17 May 2024, this was confirmed as Oostende would not be receiving a license to play in the Challenger Pro League (and thus be relegated), but would also not be receiving a license for the National Division 1, meaning it would directly relegate two levels meaning still six spots opened up, and the four round 1 winners were instantly promoted. Further rounds were thus canceled, as well as the consolation round for possible extra spots (where Jong Essevee had been drawn at home to Ninove, and Jong KV Mechelen was to host Rupel-Boom). A final twist followed a few days later when news was released that Division VV A winners Eendracht Aalst had been refused a license to be promoted and per the rules, this meant the automatic promoted shifted to the next highest eligible team Ninove, despite the fact they had lost the promotion playoffs a few days prior.

        In the end, Hasselt, Jong Cercle, Lyra-Lierse Berlaar, Merelbeke and Ninove were promoted.

        Promotion play-offs ACFF

        The play-offs feature four teams, the second-place finishers and the winners of each of the three periods (for periods won by overall champions or runners-up the highest team not yet qualified takes the spot instead). Overall champions Mons had won all three periods and hence the four highest eligible finishers were taking part:

        Qualified teams:

        • Binche (3rd highest place eligible finisher (5th) not directly qualified from division ACFF)
        • Rochefort (runner-up division ACFF)
        • Tournai (2nd highest place eligible finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division ACFF)
        • Tubize-Braine (highest place eligible finisher (3rd) not directly qualified from division ACFF)

        Going into the playoffs it was already certain that all teams would be promoted due to the reform of the National Division 1 which was split into a VV and ACFF division. The playoffs were played nevertheless.

        Semi-finalPlacing 1st/2nd
        18 May 2024
        Tournai5
        Binche2
        24 May 2024
        Tournai1
        Tubize-Braine4
        19 May 2024
        Rochefort0Placing 3rd/4th
        Tubize-Braine526 May 2024
        Binche1 (4)
        Rochefort1 (3)

        Round 1

        More information Tournai, 5–2 ...

        More information Rochefort, 0–5 ...

        All four teams were promoted.


        References

        1. "Le Stade Verviétois, nouveau club issu de la fusion entre le Stade Disonais et le CS Verviers, visera la Nationale 1". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-29.
        2. "Belgian Second Amateur Division VV A 2020/2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
        3. "Belgian Second Amateur Division VV A 2020/2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
        4. "Belgian Second Amateur Division ACFF 2020/2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2021.

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