2020–21 in Belgian football

The following article is a summary of the 2020–21 football season in Belgium, which is the 118th season of competitive football in the country and will run from August 2020 until June 2021.

Football in Belgium
Season2020–21
Men's football
Super Cupnot held
← 2019–20 2021–22 →

Men's football

Promotion and relegation

The following teams had achieved promotion or suffered relegation going into the 2019–20 season.

League Promoted to league Relegated from league
First Division A
First Division B
First Division Amateur Division
Second Division Amateur Division
  • Brakel
  • City Pirates
  • Ganshoren
  • Heur-Tongeren
  • Houtvenne
  • Jette
  • Lyra-Lierse
  • Ninove
  • Warnant
  • Wetteren
  • Zelzate
Third Division Amateur Division
  • Anzegem
  • Bambrugge
  • Berlaar-Heikant
  • Binche
  • Crossing Schaerbeek
  • De Kempen
  • Diest
  • Dison
  • Gouvy
  • Koersel
  • Lille
  • Marloie
  • Racing Mechelen
  • Nijlen
  • Oostkamp
  • Rhode-De Hoek
  • Stockel
  • Tamines
  • Voorde-Appelterre
  • Wanze Bas-Oha
  • Bilzen
  • Bornem
  • Ciney
  • Helson Helchteren
  • Kosova Schaerbeek
  • Léopold Uccle
  • Linden
  • Meix-devant-Virton
  • Oostnieuwkerke
  • Spy
  • Walhain
  • Wavre
  • Wingene

Belgian First Division A
Main article: 2020–21 Belgian First Division A
Regular season
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Club Brugge 26 19 3 4 55 18 +37 60 Qualification for the Europa Conference League and Play-offs I[lower-alpha 1]
2 Antwerp 26 14 4 8 43 35 +8 46 Qualification for the Play-offs I
3 Genk 26 12 7 7 50 35 +15 43
4 Anderlecht 26 10 11 5 36 27 +9 41
5 Oostende 26 11 6 9 39 34 +5 39 Qualification for the Play-offs II
6 Standard Liège 26 10 9 7 37 30 +7 39
7 Charleroi 26 11 5 10 39 35 +4 38
8 Beerschot 26 11 4 11 47 50 −3 37
9 OH Leuven 26 10 7 9 41 42 −1 37
10 Mechelen 26 10 6 10 39 42 −3 36
11 Zulte Waregem 26 10 4 12 39 46 −7 34
12 Gent 26 9 6 11 36 33 +3 33
13 Kortrijk 26 9 6 11 32 37 −5 33
14 Eupen 26 7 11 8 32 42 −10 32
15 Sint-Truiden 26 8 6 12 34 40 −6 30
16 Excel Mouscron 26 6 8 12 23 37 −14 26
17 Cercle Brugge 26 7 1 18 30 48 −18 22 Qualification for the Relegation play-off
18 Waasland-Beveren 26 5 6 15 32 56 −24 21 Relegation to First Division B
Updated to match(es) played on 7 February 2021. Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Away goal difference; 7) Away goals scored; 8) Play-off.[1]
Notes:
  1. The regular season winners will qualify for the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League if they do not qualify for the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League in the playoffs or for the 2021-22 UEFA Europa League through the 2020-21 Belgian Cup.


Belgian First Division B
Main article: 2020–21 Belgian First Division B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification USG SER WES LOM DEI RWD LIE NXT USG SER WES LOM DEI RWD LIE NXT
1 Union SG 18 14 2 2 44 15 +29 44 Promotion to the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A — 3–2 0–0 4–2 3–0 2–1 5–0 6–0 — 2–1 2–1
2 Seraing 18 10 2 6 43 29 +14 32 Qualification to Promotion/relegation play-off 1–0 — 0–2 1–0 3–2 0–1 1–3 6–1 — 5–0 FF [lower-alpha 1] 2–1
3 Westerlo 17 8 6 3 27 19 +8 30 1–4 1–1 — 2–1 3–0[lower-alpha 2] 3–0[lower-alpha 3] 0–0 2–1 4–3 — 2–0
4 Lommel 18 8 3 7 34 32 +2 27 0–1 3–5 1–1 — 1–2 4–0 3–2 3–1 — 4–2 3–2
5 Deinze 17 6 5 6 24 29 −5 23 0–2 3–0[lower-alpha 4] 2–2 1–1 — 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–4 0–0 — PPD [lower-alpha 5]
6 RWDM47 17 7 1 9 23 27 −4 22 3–1 3–4 3–1 0–1 1–1 — 2–0[lower-alpha 6] 2–0 0–2 — 1–0
7 Lierse Kempenzonen 18 4 1 13 22 39 −17 13 Relegation to the 2021–22 Belgian National Division 1 0–2 2–5 0–1 1–3 3–4 4–2 — 2–1 — 3–1
8 Club NXT 17 1 4 12 13 40 −27 7 U23 teams are not eligible to be promoted or relegated from the 2020–21 Belgian First Division B 1–1 0–4 1–1[lower-alpha 7] 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 — PPD [lower-alpha 5] 0–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 10 February 2021. Source: Belgian First Division B
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.[10]

Belgian National Division 1
Main article: 2020–21 Belgian National Division 1
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Tessenderlo 3 3 0 0 7 3 +4 9
2 Tienen 4 2 0 2 5 5 0 6
3 Heist 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4
4 Sint-Eloois-Winkel 2 1 0 1 4 2 +2 3
5 Francs Borains 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
6 Knokke 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3
7 Visé 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3
8 Olympic Charleroi CF 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3
9 Patro Eisden Maasmechelen 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
10 RFC Liège 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
11 Rupel Boom 2 0 1 1 0 2 −2 1
12 Dender EH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Dessel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Mandel United 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0
15 La Louvière Centre 2 0 0 2 1 5 −4 0
16 Roeselare[lower-alpha 8] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ceased to exist
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won.[12]
Notes:
  1. Lommel forfeited the match against Seraing, thereby automatically losing the match 5–0. On the day of the match, Lommel had five players test positive for COVID-19, with twenty others (players and staff) required to go into quarantine as a result. The match can only be postponed in case 7 or more A-squad players test positive, however, the club chose to forfeit the match to prevent taking excessive risks and allowing the virus to spread further.[2]
  2. The match between Westerlo and Deinze was postponed due to the home team suffering from an excessive number of A-squad players being placed in quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test, initially from 20 September 2020 to 30 September 2020,[3] but on 28 September the match was postponed again and eventually it was played on 18 November 2020.[4]
  3. The match between Westerlo and RWDM47 was postponed from 1 October 2020 to 9 November 2020, due to the home team suffering from an excessive number of A-squad players being placed in quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test.[5]
  4. The match between Deinze and Seraing was postponed from 1 November 2020 to 15 November 2020 due to the home team suffering from an excessive number of A-squad players being placed in quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test.[6]
  5. Due to expected severe weather conditions involving excessive snow, the matches Club NXT-Westerlo and Deinze-RWDM of 7 February 2021 were postponed the day before. A new date for these matches will be chosen on 15 February 2021.[7]
  6. The match between RWDM47 and Lierse Kempenzonen of 24 October 2020 was postponed to 14 November 2020 due to the home team suffering from an excessive number of A-squad players being placed in quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test.[8]
  7. The match between Club NXT and Westerlo was postponed from 25 September 2020 to 14 November 2020 due to the away team suffering from an excessive number of A-squad players being placed in quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test.[9]
  8. Roeselare went bankrupt before the season actually started,[11] resulting the team automatically finishing last.


Cup competitions
Competition Winner Score Runner-up
2020–21 Belgian Cup
2020 Belgian Super Cup not held (Club Brugge vs. Antwerp)

Transfers
Main articles: List of Belgian football transfers summer 2019, List of Belgian football transfers winter 2019–20, and List of Belgian football transfers summer 2020

UEFA competitions

Champions Club Brugge qualified directly for the group stage of the Champions League, while runners-up Gent started in the qualifying rounds. Cup winners Antwerp started in the group stage of the Europa League, while Charleroi and Standard Liège started in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds after respectively finishing third and fifth.

Date Team Competition Round Leg Opponent Location Score Belgian Team Goalscorers
15 September 2020 Gent Champions League Qual. Round 3 Single Leg, Home Rapid Wien Ghelamco Arena, Ghent 2–1 Dorsch, Yaremchuk (p)
17 September 2020 Standard Liège Europa League Qual. Round 2 Single Leg, Home Bala Town Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège 2–0 Avenatti (p), Amallah
23 September 2020 Gent Champions League Play-off round Leg 1, Home Dynamo Kyiv Ghelamco Arena, Ghent 1–2 Kleindienst
24 September 2020 Charleroi Europa League Qual. Round 3 Single Leg, Home Partizan Stade du Pays de Charleroi, Charleroi 2–1 (a.e.t.) Dessoleil, Rezaei
24 September 2020 Standard Liège Europa League Qual. Round 3 Single Leg, Home Vojvodina Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège 2–1 (a.e.t.) Avenatti (p), Amallah
29 September 2020 Gent Champions League Play-off round Leg 2, Away Dynamo Kyiv NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv 3–0
24 September 2020 Charleroi Europa League Qual. Round 3 Single Leg, Home Lech Poznań Stade du Pays de Charleroi, Charleroi 1–2 Fall
1 October 2020 Standard Liège Europa League Play-off round Single Leg, Home Fehérvár Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège 3–1 Gavory, Amallah (2x (p))
20 October 2020 Club Brugge Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1, Away Zenit Saint Petersburg Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg 1–2 Dennis, De Ketelaere
22 October 2020 Antwerp Europa League Group Stage Matchday 1, Away Ludogorets Razgrad Huvepharma Arena, Razgrad 1–2 Gerkens, Refaelov
22 October 2020 Gent Europa League Group Stage Matchday 1, Away Slovan Liberec Stadion u Nisy, Liberec 1–0
22 October 2020 Standard Liège Europa League Group Stage Matchday 1, Home Rangers Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège 0–2
28 October 2020 Club Brugge Champions League Group Stage Matchday 2, Home Lazio Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 1–1 Vanaken (p)
29 October 2020 Antwerp Europa League Group Stage Matchday 2, Home Tottenham Hotspur Bosuilstadion, Antwerp 1–0 Refaelov
29 October 2020 Gent Europa League Group Stage Matchday 2, Home 1899 Hoffenheim Ghelamco Arena, Ghent 1–4 Kleindienst
29 October 2020 Standard Liège Europa League Group Stage Matchday 2, Away Benfica Estádio da Luz, Lisbon 3–0
4 November 2020 Club Brugge Champions League Group Stage Matchday 3, Home Borussia Dortmund Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 0–3
5 November 2020 Antwerp Europa League Group Stage Matchday 3, Home LASK Bosuilstadion, Antwerp 0–1
5 November 2020 Gent Europa League Group Stage Matchday 3, Away Red Star Belgrade Red Star Stadium, Belgrade 2–1 Odjidja-Ofoe
5 November 2020 Standard Liège Europa League Group Stage Matchday 3, Away Lech Poznań Stadion Miejski, Poznań 3–1 Lestienne
24 November 2020 Club Brugge Champions League Group Stage Matchday 4, Away Borussia Dortmund Westfalenstadion, Dortmund 3–0
26 November 2020 Antwerp Europa League Group Stage Matchday 4, Away LASK Linzer Stadion, Linz[A] 0–2 Refaelov, Gerkens
26 November 2020 Gent Europa League Group Stage Matchday 4, Home Red Star Belgrade Ghelamco Arena, Ghent 0–2
26 November 2020 Standard Liège Europa League Group Stage Matchday 4, Home Lech Poznań Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège 2–1 Tapsoba, Laifis
2 December 2020 Club Brugge Champions League Group Stage Matchday 5, Home Zenit Saint Petersburg Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 3–0 De Ketelaere, Vanaken (p), Lang
3 December 2020 Antwerp Europa League Group Stage Matchday 5, Home Ludogorets Razgrad Bosuilstadion, Antwerp 3–1 Hongla, De Laet, Benson
3 December 2020 Gent Europa League Group Stage Matchday 5, Home Slovan Liberec Ghelamco Arena, Ghent 1–2 Yaremchuk
3 December 2020 Standard Liège Europa League Group Stage Matchday 5, Away Rangers Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow 3–2 Lestienne, Čop
8 December 2020 Club Brugge Champions League Group Stage Matchday 6, Away Lazio Stadio Olimpico, Rome 2–2 Vormer, Vanaken
10 December 2020 Antwerp Europa League Group Stage Matchday 6, Away Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London 0–2
10 December 2020 Gent Europa League Group Stage Matchday 6, Away 1899 Hoffenheim Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim 1–4 Fortuna
10 December 2020 Standard Liège Europa League Group Stage Matchday 6, Home Benfica Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège 2–2 Raskin, Tapsoba
18 February 2021 Antwerp Europa League Round of 32 Leg 1, Home Rangers Bosuilstadion, Antwerp
18 February 2021 Club Brugge Europa League Round of 32 Leg 1, Away Dynamo Kyiv NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kyiv
25 February 2021 Antwerp Europa League Round of 32 Leg 2, Away Rangers Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
25 February 2021 Club Brugge Europa League Round of 32 Leg 2, Home Dynamo Kyiv Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
  1. ^ a b
    LASK play their home matches at Linzer Stadion, Linz, instead of their regular home stadium Waldstadion, Pasching.

European qualification for 2021–22 summary
Competition Qualifiers Reason for Qualification
UEFA Champions League Group Stage 1st in Belgian First Division A
UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round for Non-Champions 2nd in Belgian First Division A
UEFA Europa League Group Stage Belgian Cup Winner or 3rd in Belgian First Division A
UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round 3rd or 4th in Belgian First Division A
UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round Europa League play-off winner

Managerial changes

This is a list of changes of managers within Belgian professional league football:

First Division B
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position Replaced by Date of appointment
Union SG Thomas Christiansen Contract not prolonged [13] End of 2019–20 season Pre-season Felice Mazzù 24 May 2020 [14]
Lommel Peter Maes Contract not prolonged [15] Liam Manning 10 July 2020 [16]
RWD Molenbeek Frédéric Stilmant (caretaker) Caretaker replaced Laurent Demol 11 June 2020 [17]
RWD Molenbeek Laurent Demol Sacked 2 December 2020 [18] 6th Frédéric Stilmant (caretaker) 2 December 2020
RWD Molenbeek Frédéric Stilmant (caretaker) Caretaker replaced 7 December 2020 6th Vincent Euvrard 7 December 2020 [19]

Notes
  1. Club NXT was not promoted, but rather admitted as a youth squad into the 2020–21 Belgian First Division B, to fill the open gap left, as only 23 teams had obtained the required Belgian professional football license, while 24 teams were needed. Club NXT is ineligible for promotion as well as relegation.

See also

References
  1. "Bondsreglement Titel 7: Competities" [Associtation Rules Title 7: Competitions] (PDF). Royal Belgian Football Association. p. 19. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  2. "Lommel laat verstek gaan voor match bij Seraing door coronagolf" [Lommel forfeits match at Seraing following wave of COVID19 infections] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. "10 positieve coronagevallen bij Westerlo, match tegen Deinze uitgesteld" [10 positive Coronacases at Westerlo, match against Deinze postponed] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  4. "Competitieduel Westerlo-Deinze in 1B is om coronaredenen opnieuw uitgesteld" [League fixture Westerlo-Deinze in 1B postponed for Coronareasons again] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. "Weer match van Westerlo uitgesteld: "Maar quarantaine heeft effect"" [Yet another Westerlo match postponed: "But quarantine has its effect"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. "Moeskroen-STVV en Deinze-Seraing worden uitgesteld" [Mouscron-STVV and Deinze-Seraing postponed] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  7. "Zondagswedstrijden in 1B uitgesteld, ook Nederland plooit voor de sneeuw" [Sunday matches in 1B postponed, the Netherlands also yields to the snow] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  8. "RWDM - Lierse Kempenzonen wordt uitgesteld door corona-uitbraak bij RWDM" [RWDM - Lierse Kempenzonen postponed due to Corona-outbreak at RWDM] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  9. "Meer dan 7 coronagevallen bij Westerlo: match tegen Club NXT uitgesteld" [More than 7 coronacases at Westerlo: match against Club NXT postponed] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  10. "General terms Belgian competition" (PDF). kbvb.be. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  11. "Einde van stamnummer 134: KSV Roeselare moet de boeken neerleggen" [End of matricule 134: KSV Roeselare forced to file for bankruptcy] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  12. "First Division A 2017/2018 - Season rules". vbal4. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  13. "THOMAS CHRISTIANSEN : FIN DE LA COLLABORATION" [THOMAS CHRISTIANSEN : END OF COOPERATION.] (in French). rusg.brussels. 2020-05-22.
  14. "Officieel: Felice Mazzu moet Union naar 1A loodsen " [Confirmed: Felice Mazzu must bring Union to 1A.] (in Dutch). sporza. 2020-05-24.
  15. "Lommel SK verlengt overeenkomst met Peter Maes niet" [Lommel SK does not prolong agreement with Peter Maes] (in Dutch). lommelsk.be. 2020-05-28.
  16. "Lommel SK benoemt Liam Manning tot nieuwe hoofdcoach" [Lommel SK appoints Liam Manning to new head manager] (in Dutch). lommelsk.be. 2020-07-10.
  17. "RWDM vat avontuur in 1B aan met trainer Laurent Demol" [RWDM commences adventures in 1B with coach Laurent Demol] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-06-11.
  18. "RWDM zet samenwerking met coach Laurent Demol stop" [RWDM ends cooperation with manager Laurent Demol] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-12-02.
  19. "Vincent Euvrard neemt roer bij 1B-club RWDM over" [Vincent Euvrard takes over control at 1B-club RWDM] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-12-07.
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