2023–24 Belgian National Division 1

Belgian National Division 1
Season2023–24
Dates30 August 2023 – 12 May 2024

The 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1 is the eighth season of the third-tier football league. The league is scheduled to begin on 30 August 2023 and end on 12 May 2024. After this season, as per the lower amateur levels it will split into a Flemish (VV) and Francophone (ACFF) division.

Team changes

Out

Six teams moved to another level:

In

Four teams entered the division, three teams were promoted from the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2:

  • Lokeren-Temse, winners of the Belgian Division 2 VV A.
  • Cappellen, winners of the Belgian Division 2 VV B.
  • Union Namur, runner-up of the Belgian Division 2 ACFF as champions Warnant did not apply for a licence.

finally,

Format changes

The league was reduced from 20 to 18 teams, resulting in a regular season of 34 matches. For this season only, no playoffs will be organized, as the league will split into a Flemish (VV) and Francophone (ACFF) division, with 16 and 12 teams respectively. As a result, at the end of the season:

  • the top two teams will be promoted (assuming they have obtained a valid license)
  • the lowest finishing team from VV side will be relegated in case they finish in 16th or lower. If the lowest finishing team from VV side finishes higher than 16th, it will take part in a playoff with a (VV) team from the 2023–24 Belgian Division 2, unless the two promoting teams from the 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1 are both from ACFF side and the two relegating teams from the 2023–24 Challenger Pro League are both from VV side, then the lowest finishing VV team will be relegated directly irrespective of its finishing position and no playoffs will be held.
  • the lowest finishing team from ACFF side will be relegated only if it finishes in position 18.

As a result the number of relegating teams is uncertain and might be zero, one or two.

League Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Aff. Qualification or relegation
1 Lokeren-Temse 18 16 2 0 37 9 28 50 VV Promoted to the Challenger Pro League
2 RAAL La Louvière 18 13 5 0 41 7 34 44 ACFF
3 Hoogstraten 18 10 3 5 30 26 4 33 VV
4 Jong KAA Gent 18 9 6 3 39 19 20 33 VV
5 Zébra Élites Charleroi 18 8 3 7 28 25 3 27 ACFF
6 Heist 18 8 2 8 29 26 3 26 VV
7 Knokke 18 7 5 6 27 22 5 26 VV
8 Sint-Eloois-Winkel 17 7 4 6 24 24 0 25 VV
9 Olympic Charleroi CF 18 6 6 6 31 32 −1 24 ACFF
10 Union Namur 18 7 2 9 21 33 −12 23 ACFF
11 OH Leuven U-23 18 6 4 8 30 34 −4 22 VV
12 Young Reds Antwerp 18 6 3 9 22 30 −8 21 VV
13 Virton 18 6 2 10 23 29 −6 20 ACFF
14 Thes 17 6 1 10 20 32 −12 19 VV
15 Dessel 18 5 2 11 20 36 −16 17 VV
16 Cappellen 18 4 3 11 18 28 −10 15 VV
17 Tienen 18 3 5 10 15 27 −12 14 VV Relegation to Division 2[a]
18 Visé 18 3 4 11 19 35 −16 13 ACFF
Updated to match(es) played on 19 January 2024. Source: RFBA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won.[1]
Notes:
  1. ^ the lowest finishing team from VV side will be relegated in case they finish in 16th or lower. If the lowest finishing team from VV side finishes higher than 16th, it will take part in a playoff with a (VV) team from the 2023–24 Belgian Division 2, unless the two promoting teams from the 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1 are both from ACFF side and the two relegating teams from the 2023–24 Challenger Pro League are both from VV side, then the lowest finishing VV team will be relegated directly irrespective of its finishing position and no playoffs will be held. The lowest finishing team from ACFF side will be relegated only if it finishes in position 18.

Results

Home \ Away LOK LAL HOO GNT ZEB HEI KNO SEW OLC UNA OHL YRA VIR TES DES CAP TIE VIS
Lokeren-Temse — 0–0 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–1 2–1 3–0
RAAL La Louvière — 2–0 4–0 8–1 3–1 2–1 2–0 3–0 0–0 3–0
Hoogstraten 0–5 — 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–2 3–2 3–1 2–1 0–0 2–1
Jong KAA Gent 1–1 1–1 2–3 — 2–2 2–3 4–0 5–0 1–0 2–1
Zébra Élites Charleroi 1–2 — 1–0 2–1 1–2 5–0 0–1 3–1 2–0 2–2
Heist 1–2 0–2 1–0 0–4 3–0 — 4–0 2–4 0–1 4–1
Knokke 1–2 1–1 0–0 2–1 — 1–0 0–0 5–0 2–0 3–0
Sint-Eloois-Winkel 0–1 0–1 2–2 — 2–1 1–5 4–0 pstp. 1–1 3–0
Olympic Charleroi CF 1–2 2–1 3–3 2–2 3–2 — 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–1
Union Namur 1–2 2–2 3–1 1–0 — 2–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 2–0
OH Leuven U-23 0–1 1–1 1–2 1–2 3–3 3–2 3–1 — 0–2 5–1
Young Reds Antwerp 0–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 3–3 — 0–2 1–0 1–1
Virton 0–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 0–1 — 0–1 4–0 1–0 2–3
Thes 0–1 1–3 4–2 0–3 0–3 2–1 — 4–2 4–1 2–1
Dessel 0–2 1–4 0–2 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–4 — 2–1 2–1
Cappellen 1–3 0–1 0–3 1–2 0–1 0–1 0–0 2–3 — 4–0
Tienen 0–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 2–1 0–1 —
Visé 0–1 0–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 19 January 2024. Source: Nationaal : 1st klasse (in Dutch)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.


Team information

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Locations of the 2023–24 Belgian National Division 1 teams

References

  1. ^ "National Division 1 2022/2023 - Season rules" (in Dutch). vbal4. Retrieved 21 May 2023.