2023–24 Belgian Division 3 Explained
The 2023–24 Belgian Division 3 is the eighth season of the division in its current format, placed at the fifth-tier of football in Belgium.
Team changes
In
- Relegated from the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2 were Westhoek, Erpe-Mere United, Pepingen-Halle, Beerschot U23, Turnhout, FC Seraing II and Waremme.
- Promoted from the Belgian Provincial Leagues were:
- Champions for each of the provincial leagues: Berg en Dal (Antwerp), Perwez (Brabant ACFF), Wambeek Ternat (Brabant VV), Belœil (Hainaut), Elsautoise (Liège), Zepperen-Brustem (Limburg), Longlier (Luxembourg), Arquet (Namur)
- In East Flanders, St-Denijs Sport took over the promotion spot of champions Borsbeke, who did not ask for licence and were hence ineligible for promotion.
- In West Flanders, Blankenberge took over the promotion spot of champions Wevelgem City, who did not ask for licence and were hence ineligible for promotion.
- Due to teams folding and/or voluntarily relegating at this and higher levels, extra spots opened up:
- One extra team was promoted from Liège: Wanze/Bas-Oha.
- Winner of the interprovincial round on VV side: Eksel.
- Winners of the interprovincial round on ACFF side: Flénu and Gouvy.
Out
- Directly promoted into the Belgian Division 2 were 2022–23 Belgian Division 3 champions Overijse (VV A), Wezel (VV B), Mons (ACFF A) & Rochefort (ACFF B).
- Four teams also gained promotion following wins in the promotion play-offs Voorde-Appelterre, Houtvenne, Tournai and La Calamine.
- Relegated based on their finishing positions last season were
- Rumbeke and Eppegem from division VV A,
- Kampenhout, Wijgmaal and Beringen from division VV B,
- Saint-Ghislain, Gosselies and Léopold from division ACFF A, and
- Libramont, Durbuy and Givry from division ACFF B.
- On VV-side Drongen was also relegated after losing the relegation play-off.
- Due to financial difficulties, Anzegem was forced to drop out of the league. Their results were voided and the club will restart at the bottom of the Belgian Provincial Leagues.
Other changes
- Early 2023 it became known that Solières Sport and Huy would merge to become Union Hutoise. At that time Solières was playing in the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2, but as the club did not manage to avoid relegation, resulting in both feeder clubs playing in the Belgian Division 3, the new club started in the 2023–24 Belgian Division 3. As a result, an extra team was promoted from ACFF side to fill the gap.[1]
- Furthermore, Roeselare-Daisel changed its name to SK Roeselare.
Belgian Division 3 VV A
League table
Period champions
- 1st Period: Wielsbeke (24 Points)
- 2nd Period: Westhoek (26 Points)
- 3rd Period: VW Hamme (21 Points)
Belgian Division 3 VV B
League table
Period champions
- 1st Period: Berg en Dal (24 Points)
- 2nd Period: Termien (26 Points)
- 3rd Period: Termien (25 Points)
Belgian Division 3 ACFF A
League table
Period champions
- 1st Period: Onhaye (26 Points)
- 2nd Period: Manageoise (23 Points)
- 3rd Period: Braine (24 Points)
Belgian Division 3 ACFF B
League table
Period champions
- 1st Period: Union Hutoise (27 Points)
- 2nd Period: Raeren-Eynatten (27 Points)
- 3rd Period: Habay-la-Neuve (24 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 the top two teams being promoted, all teams were unseeded when setting up the draw.
Qualified teams:
- Berg en Dal (runner-up division VV B)
- Hamme (runner-up division VV A)
- Pelt (2nd highest place finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division VV A)
- Roeselare (2nd highest place finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division VV B)
- Stekene (3rd highest place finisher (5th) not directly qualified from division VV B)
- Wellen (3rd highest place finisher (5th) not directly qualified from division VV A)
- Wielsbeke (highest place finisher (3rd) not directly qualified from division VV B)
- Zepperen-Brustem (highest place finisher (3rd) not directly qualified from division VV A)
Round 1
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Round 2
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Final
Promotion play-offs ACFF
The play-offs feature eight teams, the two second-place finishers in divisions ACFF A and ACFF 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).
Qualified teams:
- Aywaille (highest place finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division ACFF B)
- Braine (winner period 3 division ACFF A)
- Crossing Schaerbeek (runner-up division ACFF A)
- Elsautoise (2nd highest eligible place finisher (6th) not directly qualified from division ACFF B)
- Habay-la-Neuve (winner period 3 division ACFF B)
- Manageoise (winner period 2 division ACFF A)
- Ostiches-Ath (highest place finisher (4th) not directly qualified from division ACFF A)
- Raeren-Eynatten (runner-up division ACFF B)
Quarter-finals
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Notes and References
- https://www.lavenir.net/regions/huy-waremme/sports/2023/02/10/football-liegeois-lunion-hutoise-vient-detre-officialisee-CV45SVMVEVEPZEXKZIHLGXVQFA/
