Belgian Second Division

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The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian First Division. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. It is sponsored by commercial broadcaster Euro1080 (who have a television channel called EXQI), and is therefore officially known as the EXQI League.

[edit] History

The second division was created in 1905 as the Promotion. From 1923 on there were two leagues in that division (called Promotion A and Promotion B). In 1926, the system changed with only one league (14 clubs) at the second-highest level now called Division I. At the end of the 1930-31 season, the Division I was split into two leagues (of 14 clubs each). The last two teams of each league were relegated and the two top clubs promoted each year to the Premier Division. In 1952, the division was renamed to Division II with 16 teams (one league). The first two clubs qualified for the first division. In 1974, the first final round was played to access the top level. Finally, in 1994, the second division was played between 18 clubs. A win earns three points since the 1993-94 season.

In the season 2008-09, the second division has been played between 19 teams following the Namur - Geel case (both teams claiming their rights to access the second division).

[edit] Competition format and naming

[edit] Competition

The season comprises the regular season (18 teams, 34 matchdays) and the play-offs (a qualifying round and a final round).

The regular season is a double round-robin tournament played between August and May, with an interruption of 3 weeks in the winter. It is divided into three periods: the first 10 rounds of matches, the next 12, and the final 12. The winner of the overall regular season is promoted to the first division. The teams with the best record in each of the 3 blocks go into the play-offs qualifying round, together with the second placed team in the overall ranking of the second division. Two clubs from the qualifying round qualify to play the final round, joined by the 15th and 16th of the first division. The final round is a double round-robin, with the winner earning a place in the first division.

The standings, for both the regular season and the 3 blocks, are determined by the following criteria, in order:

1. number of points;
2. number of wins;
3. goal-average
4. a play-off at a neutral venue (with extra time and penalty shootout if necessary)

A team cannot play in the first division unless it has a professional license. If it does not have its license, it is replaced if possible, by the next highest team in the overall regular seaon rankings. For the automatic promotion spot (as opposed to the play-offs) the team must have finished in the top three clubs. When no team meets those conditions, the number of teams in the first division decreases.

The two lowest-placed teams go to the third division (which is divided into 2 leagues of 16 clubs), while the two champions of that division are promoted to the second division. Furthermore, the 15th and 16th-placed teams play the third division playoff with 6 teams from the third division but they enter the competition on its second round. The winner of this playoff stays or promotes to second division.

[edit] Naming

• 1905-1926: Promotion
• 1926-1952: Division I
• 1952-2008: Division II
• 2008-present: EXQI League

[edit] Clubs

[edit] Members for 2008-09

The 19 participating clubs for the 2008-09 season are the following:

[edit] Past winners

[edit] References

• (German) (English) (French) (Dutch) The Belgian Football Association official website
• (French) Sport.be website - Standings, features, results, statistitcs and news from the second division
• (English) RSSSF archive - Second division tables from 1910 to 2002
• (Dutch) Tweedeklasse.be - All info about the Belgian 2nd division