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2022–23 Belgian Division 2

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Belgian Division 2
Season2022–23
Dates3 September 2022 – 14 May 2023
ChampionsLokeren-Temse
Cappellen
Warnant
PromotedLokeren-Temse
Cappellen
Namur
RelegatedWesthoek
Erpe-Mere United
Pepingen-Halle
Beerschot U23
Turnhout
Solières Sport
Seraing II
Waremme

The 2022–23 Belgian Division 2 is the seventh season of the division in its current format, placed at the fourth-tier of football in Belgium.

With respect to the previous season, the most important change is the inclusion of U23 teams, with all three divisions seeing two teams enter and increase the size from 16 to 18 teams as a result. As before, leagues VV A and VV B consist of teams with a license from the Voetbalfederatie Vlaanderen (VV, 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 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1.

Team changes

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In

[edit]

Out

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  • Previous seasons' champions Hoogstraten (VV B) and RAAL La Louvière (ACFF) were promoted, as well as VV A division runners-up Ninove (who took the place of Sparta Petegem which did not apply for a licence, necessary to get promoted).
  • Relegated based on their finishing positions last season were Houtvenne and Wijgmaal from division VV B and Couvin-Mariembourg, Givry and Durbuy from the ACFF division.
  • In division VV A, Zwevezele and Menen dropped down voluntarily to restart at lower levels, while Ronse folded as a team entirely with its matricule number scrapped, although de facto it merged into another team.

Belgian Division 2 VV A

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Locations of the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2 VV A teams

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Lokeren-Temse (C, P) 34 22 7 5 66 35 +31 73 Promotion to the 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1
2 Petegem 34 17 8 9 68 55 +13 59 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs VV
3 Oostkamp 34 16 10 8 77 51 +26 58
4 Jong Cercle 34 16 7 11 54 43 +11 55
5 Racing Gent 34 15 8 11 63 51 +12 53
6 Merelbeke 34 14 11 9 47 36 +11 53
7 Aalst 34 15 6 13 55 44 +11 51 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs VV
8 Jong Essevee 34 14 8 12 64 49 +15 50
9 Dikkelvenne 34 14 8 12 53 55 −2 50
10 Oudenaarde 34 13 10 11 60 64 −4 49
11 Zelzate 34 13 6 15 53 55 −2 45
12 Torhout 34 12 8 14 57 46 +11 44
13 Olsa Brakel 34 12 8 14 49 54 −5 44
14 Harelbeke 34 11 8 15 46 60 −14 41
15 Gullegem 34 10 11 13 57 53 +4 41
16 Wetteren (O) 34 9 8 17 41 67 −26 35 Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
17 Westhoek (R) 34 8 11 15 44 66 −22 35 Relegation to the 2023–24 Belgian Division 3
18 Erpe-Mere (R) 34 2 3 29 23 93 −70 9
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.[1]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Belgian Division 2 VV B

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Locations of the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2 VV B teams

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Cappellen (C, P) 34 20 6 8 61 37 +24 66 Promotion to the 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1
2 Hades 34 18 8 8 51 32 +19 62 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs VV
3 Hasselt 34 17 7 10 52 42 +10 58
4 Belisia 34 17 5 12 55 37 +18 56
5 Tongeren 34 17 5 12 61 56 +5 56
6 Lyra-Lierse Berlaar 34 16 7 11 64 45 +19 55
7 Jong KV Mechelen 34 15 9 10 60 48 +12 54
8 Diegem 34 14 10 10 56 51 +5 52
9 Bocholt 34 14 7 13 54 46 +8 49
10 Racing Mechelen 34 12 11 11 45 36 +9 47
11 Lille 34 13 7 14 55 59 −4 46
12 City Pirates 34 12 8 14 56 75 −19 44 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs VV
13 Londerzeel 34 10 11 13 51 48 +3 41
14 Berchem 34 10 8 16 45 61 −16 38
15 Lebbeke 34 10 8 16 47 64 −17 38
16 Turnhout (R) 34 10 4 20 68 81 −13 34 Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
17 Pepingen-Halle (R) 34 7 7 20 36 66 −30 28 Relegation to the 2023–24 Belgian Division 3
18 Beerschot U23 (R) 34 7 6 21 40 73 −33 27
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.[2]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Belgian Division 2 ACFF

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Locations of the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2 ACFF teams

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Warnant[a] (C) 34 22 6 6 58 31 +27 72
2 Union Namur (P) 34 19 5 10 75 53 +22 62 Promotion to the 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1
3 Tubize-Braine 34 18 7 9 70 33 +37 61 Qualification for the Promotion play-offs ACFF
4 La Louvière Centre 34 18 5 11 62 46 +16 56[b]
5 Meux 34 16 8 10 51 46 +5 56
6 Binche 34 15 10 9 54 43 +11 55
7 Rebecq 34 16 5 13 61 54 +7 53
8 Stockay 34 15 8 11 45 41 +4 53
9 Verlaine 34 15 6 13 55 41 +14 51
10 Dison 34 13 11 10 45 44 +1 50
11 Hamoir 34 12 9 13 47 64 −17 45
12 Acren-Lessines 34 14 2 18 54 66 −12 44
13 Ganshoren 34 11 11 12 47 47 0 44
14 Union SG B 34 10 8 16 53 53 0 38
15 Jette 34 9 8 17 45 56 −11 35
16 Solières (R) 34 8 7 19 54 77 −23 31 Relegation to the 2023–24 Belgian Division 3
17 RFC Seraing U23 (R) 34 6 6 22 39 76 −37 24
18 Waremme (R) 34 3 10 21 30 74 −44 19
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.[3]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Warnant did not apply for a license to be eligible for the Belgian National Division 1 and hence was not eligible for promotion.
  2. ^ La Louvière Centre was deducted 3 points for not obtaining a valid license during the previous season.

Championship match

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With two divisions on VV side, the two divisional champions decided to play a championship match to determine the overall VV Division 2 champion.

Championship match VV

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Lokeren-Temse0–1Cappellen
report Diawara 7'
Referee: Ermaild Mataj

Cappellen was awarded the symbolic title of Belgian Division 2 VV champion.

Promotion play-offs

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Promotion play-offs VV

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

In division A, Eendracht Aalst won the first period and was joined by the teams in positions 2 through 4: Petegem, Oostkamp and Jong Cercle, as the other two periods were won by champions Lokeren-Temse. In division B, Hades (2nd), Hasselt (3rd), and City Pirates (12th) each were able to win a period and thereby qualified. They were joined by the highest finisher not already qualified: Belisia Bilzen (4th). Of these eight teams, only Belisia Bilzen, Eendracht Aalst, Hasselt and Jong Cercle are eligible for promotion and can qualify for the Promotion play-offs Final.

VV Round 1

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City Pirates0–4Jong Cercle
report Wilke 2', 17' (pen.), 18'
Ackx 29'
Petegem0–2Hasselt
report Maus 53' (pen.)
Cuypers 64'
Belisia Bilzen2–0Oostkamp
Wijnen 37'
Quadflieg 60'		 report
Eendracht Aalst0–0 (a.e.t.)Hades
report
Penalties
Van Den Eynde soccer ball with check mark
De Coninck soccer ball with red X
Panneel soccer ball with check mark
Mbaye soccer ball with check mark		 3–5 soccer ball with check mark Bongiorno
soccer ball with check mark Cinti
soccer ball with check mark Jacquemyn
soccer ball with check mark Caubergs
soccer ball with check mark Gueroui

Jong Cercle, Hasselt, Belisia Bilsen, and Hades qualified for the VV second-round promotion play-offs. As more than two of the eligible teams qualified, VV Round 2 was necessary.

VV Round 2

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Belisia Bilzen0–1Jong Cercle
report El Bahri 88'
Hasselt5–0Hades
Cuypers 9', 87'
Kessels 52'
Huygen 54'
Vandergeeten 58'		 report

Hasselt and Jong Cercle qualified for the promotion play-offs Final and were both eligible, hence the third round match between Belisia Bilzen and Hades was not played as there was nothing more at stake.

Promotion play-offs ACFF

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With champions Warnant ineligible for promotion, second-placed Union Namur was directly promoted instead. As no teams outside the top six won a period title, the teams in positions 3 through 6 participated in the playoffs. Prior to the start of these play-offs however, both Meux and Binche were already ineligible for promotion as they had not applied for a license for the level above.

ACFF Round 1

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La Louvière Centre3–0Meux
Luhaka 14'
Ba 16'
Lubaki-Evra 40'		 report
Tubize-Braine0–0 (a.e.t.)Binche
report
Penalties
Leite soccer ball with check mark
Lkoutbi soccer ball with red X
Migliore soccer ball with check mark
Velasco Plaza soccer ball with check mark
El Omari soccer ball with check mark
Van Onsem soccer ball with check mark
Tepe soccer ball with check mark
Taroli soccer ball with check mark
Aarab soccer ball with red X		 7–8 soccer ball with check mark Scohy
soccer ball with check mark Seggour
soccer ball with check mark George
soccer ball with check mark Louagé
soccer ball with red X Despontin
soccer ball with check mark Frisanco
soccer ball with check mark Franquin
soccer ball with check mark Brichant
soccer ball with check mark Fisichella

La Louvière Centre and Binche qualified for ACFF Round 2. Binche was however ineligible for promotion and hence La Louvière Centre was already certain of participating in the Promotion play-offs Final irrespective of the result.

ACFF Round 2

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Binche1–2La Louvière Centre
Seggour 68' report Jatta 25'
Lubaki-Evra 57'

Promotion play-offs Final

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The two winners of the Promotion play-offs on the VV side (Jong Cercle and Hasselt) and La Louvière Centre, 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 2022–23 Belgian National Division 1 (Young Reds Antwerp). The winner of this play-off promotes to (or remains in) the 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1. As Young Reds Antwerp is a team from the VV side, there will be an extra VV team relegating from the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2 (and all levels below) in case the team from the ACFF side (La Louvière Centre) gets promoted. In this division, this meant that R.F.C. Wetteren, the winner of the Relegation play-offs, had to hope La Louvière Centre would not win the Promotion play-offs Final.

Final Round 1

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La Louvière Centre0–2Young Reds Antwerp
report Shala 73' (pen.)
Aziz 90+2'
Hasselt1–4Jong Cercle
Maus 62' report Wilke 28'
Lucker 44'
Ackx 56'
Aziz 87'

La Louvière Centre and Hasselt were eliminated and remain in the Belgian Division 2. Due to the non-promotion of La Louvière Centre, both the outgoing and incoming team will be of the same (Flemish) side of the football pyramid, and hence there will be no extra promotions on ACFF side, nor extra relegations on VV side. On VV side in particular, the following teams were spared of relegation due to the loss of La Louvière Centre: Wetteren (Division 2), Witgoor (Division 3), Ranst (1st Provincial Division Antwerp), Willebroek (2nd Provincial Division Antwerp) and Berendrecht (3rd Provincial Division Antwerp).

Final Round 2

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Young Reds Antwerp1–0Jong Cercle
Shala 84' report
Berlaar
Referee: Tim De Keyzer

As Young Reds Antwerp won the match, both clubs remained in their division. Young Reds Antwerp will play in the Belgian National Division 1, while Jong Cercle will play in the Belgian Division 2.

Relegation play-off

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At this level of the football pyramid, there is only a relegation playoff on the VV side, with the two teams finishing 14th playing each other.

Wetteren3–0Turnhout
De Caigny 7' (pen.)
Vandekerckhove 24'
Mitu 44'		 report

Prior to the match, it was known that the loser of this VV play-off would be relegated, while the winner would need to await the results of higher divisions. Turnhout was thus relegated while Wetteren was unsure. On 27 May 2023, following the loss of La Louvière Centre in the Promotion play-offs Final of the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2, there would be no extra relegations on VV side and hence Wetteren was spared of relegation.

Number of teams by provinces

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Number of teams Province or region Team(s) in VV A Team(s) in VV B Team(s) in ACFF
12  East Flanders Aalst, Brakel, Dikkelvenne, Erpe-Mere, RC Gent, Lokeren-Temse, Merelbeke, Oudenaarde, Petegem, Wetteren and Zelzate Lebbeke –
9  Antwerp none Beerschot U23, Berchem, Cappellen, City Pirates, Jong KV Mechelen, Lille, Lyra-Lierse, Racing Mechelen and Turnhout –
8  Liège – – Dison, Hamoir, RFC Seraing U23, Solières, Stockay, Verlaine, Waremme and Warnant
7  West Flanders Gullegem, Harelbeke, Jong Cercle, Jong Essevee, Oostkamp, Torhout and Westhoek none –
5  Limburg none Belisia, Bocholt, Hades, Hasselt, Heur-Tongeren –
3  Brussels none none Ganshoren, Jette and Union SG B
 Hainaut – – Acren Lessines, Binche and La Louvière
 Flemish Brabant none Diegem, Londerzeel and Pepingen-Halle –
2  Namur – – Meux and Namur
 Walloon Brabant – – Rebecq and Tubize-Braine

References

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  1. ^ "Belgian Second Amateur Division VV A 2020/2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Belgian Second Amateur Division VV A 2020/2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Belgian Second Amateur Division ACFF 2020/2021". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
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