2021–22 Belgian Division 2

Football league season
Belgian Division 2
Season2021–22
ChampionsPetegem (A), Hoogstraten (B) and RAAL La Louvière (C)
PromotedNinove (A), Hoogstraten (B) and RAAL La Louvière (C)
RelegatedZwevezele, Menen, Ronse, Houtvenne, Wijgmaal, Couvin-Mariembourg, Givry, Durbuy
← 2020–21
2022–23 →

The 2021–22 Belgian Division 2 is the sixth season of the division in its current format, placed at the fourth-tier of football in Belgium. As the previous season was cancelled in January 2021 due to governmental measures against COVID-19 prohibiting amateur football,[1] the division features nearly exactly teams.

As before the division consists of three separate leagues of 16 teams each. Leagues VFV A and VFV B consist of teams with a license from the Voetbalfederatie Vlaanderen (VFV, the Flemish/Dutch speaking wing of the Belgian FA), while the ACFF league contains teams with a license from the Association des Clubs Francophones de Football (ACFF, the French-speaking wing of the RBFA). The champions from each of the three leagues will be promoted to the 2022–23 Belgian National Division 1.

Team changes

In

No new clubs entered as the previous season was cancelled.

Out

Mergers

  • AFC Tubize merged with Stade Braine (which was playing at a lower level) to become Royale Union Tubize-Braine, known as Tubize-Braine.
  • Spouwen-Mopertingen de facto merged with Bilzerse Waltwilder (which was playing at a lower level) to become S.V. Belisia, known as Belisia. In strict sense it is not a merger, as Bilzerse Waltwilder continues to exist, playing only in the youth competitions under the new name Bilzen Youth.
  • Heur-Tongeren merged with SK Tongeren Jeugd to reinstate the former Tongeren and continue under that name.

Belgian Division 2 VFV A

2021–22 Belgian Division 2 is located in Belgium
Harelbeke
Harelbeke
Westhoek
Westhoek
Menen
Menen
Dikkelvenne
Dikkelvenne
Merelbeke
Merelbeke
Zelzate
Zelzate
Wetteren
Wetteren
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Locations of the 2021–22 Belgian Division 2 VV A teams

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Petegem[a] (C) 30 20 7 3 73 30 +43 67
2 Ninove (P) 30 18 6 6 69 30 +39 60 Promotion to the 2022–23 Belgian National Division 1
3 Olsa Brakel[b] 30 17 7 6 64 38 +26 58 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs VFV
4 Lokeren-Temse 30 17 6 7 45 28 +17 57
5 Zwevezele[c] (R) 30 16 8 6 62 37 +25 56 Relegation to the Belgian Provincial Leagues
6 Zelzate[b] 30 15 4 11 50 39 +11 49 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs VFV
7 Merelbeke[b] 30 13 6 11 43 43 0 45
8 Gullegem 30 11 8 11 43 46 −3 41
9 Oudenaarde 30 12 4 14 39 49 −10 40
10 Harelbeke 30 11 7 12 51 42 +9 40
11 Gent-Zeehaven 30 12 3 15 42 46 −4 39
12 Dikkelvenne 30 10 8 12 43 50 −7 38
13 Westhoek 30 9 4 17 47 62 −15 31
14 Wetteren (O) 30 6 5 19 34 63 −29 23 Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
15 Menen[d] (R) 30 5 4 21 32 77 −45 19 Restarting at bottom level of pyramid
16 Ronse[e] (R) 30 3 3 24 22 79 −57 12 Folded as a 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
Notes:
  1. ^ Champions Petegem chose not to apply for a license to play in the Belgian National Division 1 and was not eligible for promotion, they also opted not to participate in the Promotion play-offs VFV (which they could despite not being eligible for promotion).
  2. ^ a b c Both Brakel, Zelzate and Merelbeke qualified for the Promotion play-offs VFV based on their finishing position (after Petegem dropped out), despite not being eligible for promotion due to not applying for a license for the Belgian National Division 1 level for the coming season
  3. ^ Zwevezele opted to drop down to the Belgian Provincial Leagues for the coming season.[2]
  4. ^ Menen will restart at the very bottom level of the Belgian football pyramid.[3]
  5. ^ Ronse folds as a team, with its matricule being removed from the books. Officially, the club will merge into KVV Ardennen playing in the first provincial division, with the new club name still to be announced.[4]

Belgian Division 2 VFV B

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Locations of the 2021–22 Belgian Division 2 VV B teams

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Hoogstraten (C, P) 30 22 4 4 72 22 +50 70 Promotion to the 2022–23 Belgian National Division 1
2 Aalst 30 17 6 7 61 35 +26 57 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs VFV
3 Lyra-Lierse 30 17 6 7 52 29 +23 57
4 Cappellen[a] 30 16 5 9 53 40 +13 53
5 Belisia 30 15 7 8 44 32 +12 52
6 Bocholt 30 15 6 9 47 38 +9 51
7 City Pirates 30 13 4 13 44 56 −12 43
8 Londerzeel 30 10 8 12 36 37 −1 38
9 Diegem 30 9 8 13 36 45 −9 35
10 Hasselt 30 10 4 16 38 50 −12 34
11 Berchem 30 8 9 13 36 45 −9 33
12 Tongeren 30 8 8 14 37 49 −12 32
13 Hades 30 7 11 12 34 45 −11 32
14 Pepingen-Halle 30 7 7 16 34 51 −17 28 Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
15 Houtvenne (R) 30 6 8 16 30 52 −22 26 Relegation to the 2022–23 Belgian Division 3
16 Wijgmaal (R) 30 6 7 17 30 58 −28 25
Updated to match(es) played on completed. 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; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Cappellen qualified for the Promotion play-offs VFV based on its finishing position, despite not being eligible for promotion due to not applying for a license for the Belgian National Division 1 level for the coming season

Belgian Division 2 ACFF

2021–22 Belgian Division 2 is located in Belgium
Acren Lessines
Acren Lessines
Hamoir
Hamoir
Solières
Solières
Waremme
Waremme
Durbuy
Durbuy
Couvin-Mariembourg
Couvin-Mariembourg
Givry
Givry
Verlaine
Verlaine
Stockay
Stockay
Warnant
Warnant
Ganshoren
Ganshoren
Jette
Jette
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Locations of the 2021–22 Belgian Division 2 ACFF teams

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 La Louvière (C, P) 30 26 0 4 75 18 +57 78 Promotion to the 2022–23 Belgian National Division 1
2 Meux[a] 30 19 8 3 73 32 +41 65 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs ACFF
3 Warnant[a] 30 17 10 3 61 24 +37 61
4 Tubize-Braine 30 17 4 9 63 42 +21 52[b]
5 Rebecq[c] 30 14 7 9 53 40 +13 49
6 Ganshoren 30 14 7 9 46 33 +13 49
7 Solières 30 13 9 8 74 47 +27 48
8 Hamoir 30 13 8 9 55 53 +2 47
9 Acren-Lessines 30 13 3 14 61 61 0 42
10 Jette 30 10 6 14 37 48 −11 36
11 Waremme 30 9 4 17 48 58 −10 31
12 Stockay 30 8 6 16 35 59 −24 30
13 Verlaine 30 8 5 17 35 53 −18 29
14 Couvin-Mariembourg (R) 30 6 6 18 31 59 −28 24 Relegation to the 2022–23 Belgian Division 3
15 Givry (R) 30 5 7 18 31 65 −34 22
16 Durbuy (R) 30 2 2 26 16 102 −86 8
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.[7]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Meux and Warnant qualified for the Promotion play-offs ACFF based on its finishing position, despite not being eligible for promotion due to not applying for a license for the Belgian National Division 1 level for the coming season
  2. ^ Tubize-Braine were deducted 3 points for licence application inconsistencies in their application of two seasons ago
  3. ^ Rebecq had applied for a license to be eligible for the Belgian National Division 1 for the coming season, but this was refused after the Promotion play-offs ACFF had already started

Promotion play-offs

Promotion play-offs VFV

The teams finishing in second place in the Belgian Division 2 VFV A and Belgian Division 2 VFV B take part in a promotion playoff first round together with three period winners from these both divisions. These 8 teams from the VFV play the first round of a promotion-playoff, with two teams qualifying for the Promotion play-offs Final.

In division A, champions Petegem and runners-up Ninove each won one period title, with Olsa Brakel taking the third one. As a result, in theory Lokeren-Temse and Zwevezele would be joining the playoffs together with Ninove and Olsa Brakel. Petegem however had not applied for a license and could hence not be promoted, with Ninove taking its place. Furthermore, Petegem did not enter the Promotion play-offs (although they could have, despite not being eligible for promotion). Zwevezele folded as a team and also vacated their place, meaning in the end Olsa Brakel was joined by Lokeren-Temse, Zelzate and Merelbeke. Of these four teams, only Lokeren-Temse was eligible for promotion as the others had not applied for a license.

In division B, second place finishers Eendracht Aalst were joined by Lyra-Lierse (3rd) and Cappellen (4th) who had each won a period title. The final spot was completed by the highest finisher not already qualified, 5th place Belisia. Of these four teams, Cappellen was not eligible for promotion due to not applying for a license, meaning that overall, only four of the eight teams participating in the Promotion play-offs VFV would be allowed to take a place in the Promotion play-offs Final.

VFV Round 1

Olsa Brakel3–1Merelbeke
Shala
Otte (pen.)
Capelleman 		report Van Laere
Eendracht Aalst1–1 (a.e.t.)Cappellen
Geenens 38' report Van Zantvoort 70'
Penalties
Van Den Eynde soccer ball with check mark
Fabris soccer ball with check mark
Deconinck soccer ball with check mark
Wantens soccer ball with check mark
Panneel soccer ball with check mark		 5–4 soccer ball with check mark Kil
soccer ball with check mark Van Zantvoort
soccer ball with check mark Ristovic
soccer ball with check mark Walen De Keyser
soccer ball with red X Volant
Belisia2–2 (a.e.t.)Lokeren-Temse
Martin-Suarez 14'
Vandecaetsbeek 108'		 report Vermeiren 32'
Boulaouali 99'
Penalties
Cascio soccer ball with check mark
Wijnen soccer ball with check mark
Lathouwers soccer ball with red X
Martin-Suarez soccer ball with check mark
Cauwenberg soccer ball with check mark		 4–3 soccer ball with check mark Ramazani
soccer ball with check mark De Neve
soccer ball with red X De Witte
soccer ball with check mark Symons
soccer ball with red X Boulaouali
Zelzate0–3Lyra-Lierse Berlaar
report Adesanya 38'
Peffer 79', 90'

Olsa Brakel, Eendracht Aalst, Belisia and Lyra-Lierse Berlaar qualified for the VFV second round promotion play-offs.

VFV Round 2

Lyra-Lierse Berlaar1–2Olsa Brakel
Peffer 74' (pen.) report Cocquyt 6'
D'Hondt 36'
Eendracht Aalst2–0Belisia
Mbaye 8'
Dekuyper 43'		 report

Olsa Brakel and Eendracht Aalst qualified for the promotion play-offs Final. Olsa Brakel however was ineligible due to not applying for a licence to play at a higher level. Therefore a third round match was held between the losers of round 2.

VFV Round 3

Lyra-Lierse Berlaar3–3 (a.e.t.)Belisia
Schaessens 10'
Peffer 21', 110'		 report Stassen 51'
Ernens 81'
Wijnen 100' (pen.)
Penalties
Peffer soccer ball with check mark
Adesanya soccer ball with check mark
Van den Buijs soccer ball with check mark
Vets soccer ball with check mark
Kil soccer ball with check mark
Weuts soccer ball with check mark
De Wilde soccer ball with check mark
Nys soccer ball with check mark
Van Goylen soccer ball with red X
Lambreghts soccer ball with check mark
Sterkens soccer ball with check mark		 10–9 soccer ball with check mark Cascio
soccer ball with check mark Martin-Suarez
soccer ball with check mark Landuyt
soccer ball with check mark Wagemans
soccer ball with check mark Wijnen
soccer ball with check mark Ernens
soccer ball with check mark La Mantia
soccer ball with check mark Timmermans
soccer ball with red X Vandecaetsbeek
soccer ball with check mark Stassen
soccer ball with red X T. Haenen

Lyra-Lierse Berlaar qualified for the promotion play-offs Final, together with Round 2 winner Eendracht Aalst.

Promotion play-offs ACFF

Meux, as team finishing in second place in the Belgian Division 2 ACFF qualified for the Promotion play-offs ACFF, as well as Tubize-Braine (4th overall) for winning the third period. The two other periods were won by champions RAAL La Louvière and hence 3rd and 5th placed teams Warnant and Rebecq were invited as well. Prior to the start of these play-offs however, both Meux and Warnant were already ineligible for promotion as they had not applied for a license for the level above, while Rebecq had been refused a license but had appealed this decision. In case the appeal was not successful, Tubize-Braine would automatically qualify for the Promotion play-offs Final from ACFF side, however the appeal decision was only announced on 20 May while the ACFF Round 1 matches were already scheduled for 8 May.

ACFF Round 1

Warnant3–2Meux
Fransolet
Biscotti
Mavuba 		report Smal
Bajraktari
Rebecq1–1 (a.e.t.)Tubize-Braine
Bova report Migliore
Penalties
4–3

Warnant and Rebecq qualified for ACFF Round 2.

ACFF Round 2

Rebecq2–5 (a.e.t.)Warnant
Timmermans 15' (o.g.)
Depotbecker 57'		 report Fransolet 50' (pen.)
Scevenels 61'
Biatour 106', 115'
Grymonpré 120' (o.g.)

With Warnant ineligible for promotion, the Round 2 match was effectively useless and Rebecq would choose a lineup of youngsters, knowing they had already won the right to take part in the Promotion play-offs Final. On 20 May 2022 however, the final verdict of the license appeal was that Rebecq would not be awarded a license for the Belgian National Division 1, making them also ineligible for promotion.[8] With Tubize-Braine now the only team from ACFF with a license, despite losing in an earlier round, they took over the place of Rebecq.

Promotion play-offs Final

The two winners of the Promotion play-offs on the VFV side (Eendracht Aalst and Lyra-Lierse Berlaar) and Tubize-Braine, the only team with a valid license taking part in the ACFF Promotion play-offs played a final tournament together with the team that finished in 14th place in the 2021–22 Belgian National Division 1 (Mandel United). The winner of this play-off promotes to (or remains in) the 2022–23 Belgian National Division 1. As Mandel United is a team from the VFV side, there will be an extra VFV team relegating from the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2 in case the team from the ACFF side (Tubize-Braine) gets promoted. The losing team of the Relegation play-offs, Pepingen-Halle, hence had to hope Tubize-Braine would not win the Promotion play-offs Final.

Final Round 1

Mandel United2–1Eendracht Aalst
Kumbi 26'
Jalloh 88'		 Mbaye 31'
Eendracht Aalst0–0Mandel United
report

Mandel United won 2–1 on aggregate and moves on to Final Round 2, Eendracht Aalst remains in the Belgian Division 2.

Tubize-Braine1–1Lyra-Lierse Berlaar
El Omari 21' (pen.) Peffer 75'
Lyra-Lierse Berlaar0–1 (a.e.t.)Tubize-Braine
report Garlito 92'

Tubize-Braine won 2–1 on aggregate and moves on to Final Round 2, Lyra-Lierse Berlaar remains in the Belgian Division 2.

Final Round 2

Mandel United6–2Tubize-Braine
Tsagué 8', 52'
Ferber 11', 74'
Verhaest 45'
Kimpala 50'		 report Michel 22'
Mukendi 83'
Tubize-Braine1–2Mandel United
Debolé 19' report Ferber 25'
Jalloh 52'
Referee: Ibrahim Afifi

Mandel United won 8–2 on aggregate and thereby secures its stay in the 2022–23 Belgian National Division 1, while Tubize-Braine is denied promotion and remains in the Belgian Division 2.

Relegation play-offs

The number of teams relegating from the Belgian Division 2 in each wing (VFV and ACFF) depends on the number of teams of each wing relegating from the Belgian National Division 1.

In case Mandel United, taking part in the Promotion play-offs Final and also from VFV side is relegated and replaced by a team from ACFF side, then an extra VFV team will be relegated from the 2021–22 Belgian Division 2. On ACFF side on the other hand, no extra relegations would be necessary and only the three bottom teams the ACFF division would be relegated.

Relegation play-offs VFV

The teams finishing 14th in divisions A and B played each other in a single match to avoid relegation, with the winning team spared of relegation while the losing team relegating in case a team from the ACFF wing would win the Promotion play-offs Final, to be completed later that month.

Wetteren4–1Pepingen-Halle
Willemyns 20', 48'
De Caigny 27'
Dib 90'		 Report Ngadrira 68' (pen.)

Wetteren was spared of relegation, Pepingen-Halle had to await the result of the Promotion play-offs Final.

Relegation play-offs ACFF

As there is only one division no playoff was organised, furthermore no extra relegations were necessary hence only the bottom three teams from the ACFF division were relegated.

Number of teams by provinces

Number of teams Province or region Team(s) in VFV A Team(s) in VFV B Team(s) in ACFF
12  East Flanders Brakel, Dikkelvenne, RC Gent, Lokeren-Temse, Merelbeke, Ninove, Oudenaarde, Petegem, Ronse, Wetteren and Zelzate Aalst –
6  Antwerp none Berchem, Cappellen, City Pirates, Hoogstraten, Houtvenne and Lyra-Lierse –
 Liège – – Hamoir, Solières, Stockay, Verlaine, Waremme and Warnant
5  Limburg none Belisia, Bocholt, Hades, Hasselt, Tongeren –
 West Flanders Gullegem, Harelbeke, Menen, Westhoek and Zwevezele none –
4  Flemish Brabant none Diegem, Londerzeel, Pepingen-Halle and Wijgmaal –
2  Brussels none none Ganshoren and Jette
 Hainaut – – Acren Lessines and RAAL La Louvière
 Luxembourg – – Durbuy and Givry
 Namur – – Couvin-Mariembourg and Meux
 Walloon Brabant – – Rebecq and Tubize-Braine

References

  1. ^ "Amateurcompetities definitief stopgezet, jeugdvoetbal tot U13 blijft mogelijk" [Amateur leagues cancelled definitively, youth matches until U13 remain possible]. sporza (in Dutch). 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  2. ^ "KSK Zwevezele verdwijnt uit het nationaal voetbal".
  3. ^ Bourez, Philippe (2022-05-01). "Zwevezele en SC Menen nemen afscheid van het nationaal voetbal met een puntendeling". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  4. ^ Thijs, Kristophe (2022-03-23). "Het doek valt definitief over KSK Ronse: "Ons hart was dit seizoen aan het bloeden, nu is het gebroken"". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  5. ^ "Belgian Second Amateur Division VFV A 2020/2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Belgian Second Amateur Division VFV B 2020/2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Belgian Second Amateur Division ACFF 2020/2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Licence: l'Appel de Rebecq n'a pas été entendu".