Belgian FA expands top tier women’s league to 10 clubs

May 1 – The Coronavirus has thrown the immediate future of the global game into disarray, but it hasn’t stopped the Belgian FA (KBVB) from expanding the domestic women’s league to ten clubs, a move designed to develop the women’s game after years of chronic neglect.

Next season, Eendracht Aalst Ladies, Zulte Waregem, White Star Woluwe and Charleroi will join the expanded Super League in Belgium. Woluwe won the second division three times in a row and Aalst topped the table before the global health crisis forced a suspension of the game in Belgium.

The KBVB received 11 requests for a top flight license, but on the field DVC EVA’s Tienen didn’t meet the requirement for promotion. The new clubs will play alongside RSC Anderlecht, Standard Fémina, AA Gent, KRC Genk Ladies, Club Brugge YLA and OH Leuven in the 10-team league.

As a consequence of the expansion, the league format will incorporate playoffs at the end of the regular season instead of crowning a champion after 25 match days. The number of match days will be reduced to 18, with all clubs playing each other home and away. Previously, the six clubs met each other six times a season, which didn’t help competition or development of the league.

The league will also receive a commercial boost of €100,000 from the newly negotiated TV rights deal in Belgium, which included rights for the Super League and a promise by rights holder Eleven Sports to offer the women’s game more exposure. The Pro League allots €50,000 a season to the women’s game.

Doubts over the sustainability of a 10-team topflight however persist. Newcomers Aalst and Woluwe are not linked to any men’s clubs, who often budget €150,000 for the women’s game. In the top flight, KRC Genk Ladies are an exception. They barely receive support from the men’s club.

Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1711657212labto1711657212ofdlr1711657212owedi1711657212sni@o1711657212fni1711657212