Belgian First Division B

The Belgian First Division B (officially known as Proximus League) is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system, one level below the Belgian First Division A. It was created by the Royal Belgian Football Association in 2016, replacing the Belgian Second Division.

Belgian First Division B
Founded2016
CountryBelgium
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toBelgian First Division A
Relegation toBelgian First Amateur Division
Domestic cup(s)Belgian Cup
Current championsMechelen
(2018–19)
WebsiteOfficial website
2019–20 Belgian First Division B

History

The Belgian First Division B was created in 2016 as the successor of the Belgian Second Division following an overhaul of the Belgian football league system which saw the number of professional clubs reduced to 24 and the number of teams at the second level of the football pyramid to 8. [1]

Competition format

The season comprises two separate competitions in which all 8 teams play each other twice. The winners of both competitions face each other in a two-legged playoff with the winner promoted to the Belgian First Division A.

Until 2019, the top three teams excluding the promoted team, played together with the teams finishing in the positions 7 through 15 of the Belgian First Division A in a playoff for a ticket into the UEFA Europa League. The remaining four teams played a relegation playoff, with the last team relegating into the Belgian First Amateur Division. From 2019, the top six teams all took part in the Europa League playoffs (including the promoted team), with only the bottom two teams playing the relegation playoff in which they play each other five times.

Past results overview
Season Opening tournament winner Closing tournament winner Promotion play-off winner Europa League play-offs qualifiers Relegated
2016–17RoeselareAntwerpAntwerpLierse, Roeselare and Union SGLommel United
2017–18Beerschot WilrijkCercle BruggeCercle BruggeBeerschot Wilrijk, OH Leuven and Liersenone [nb 1]
2018–19MechelenBeerschot WilrijkMechelenBeerschot Wilrijk, Union SG and WesterloTubize
2019–20OH LeuvenBeerschotnot held [nb 2]Roeselare and Virton [nb 3]

Footnotes
  1. Although Tubize finished last and would have been relegated, Lierse went bankrupt and was removed as a team. As a result, Tubize remained in the Belgian First Division B while the matricule of Lierse was removed.
  2. Not held due to coronavirus pandemic, Beerschot, Lommel, OH Leuven, Union SG, Virton and Westerlo had qualified.
  3. No relegation playoffs were played as the coronavirus pandemic, but both Roeselare and Virton were relegated as they were refused a professional football license due to insufficient proof of financial solvency. Lokeren went bankrupt and was removed as a team.

References
  1. "La réforme du championnat approuvée: une grande lessive se prépare en D2 (INFOGRAPHIE)" (in French). dh.be. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
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