Season 2016–17 Location Belgium | Start date August 2016 | |
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Similar 2015–16 Belgian Second D, 2015–16 Belgian Pro Leag, 2012–13 Belgian Second D, 2009–10 Belgian Pro Leag, 2012–13 Belgian Pro Leag | ||
The 2016–17 season of the Belgian First Division B began in August 2016 and will end in April 2017. It is the inaugural season of the First Division B following a change in league format from the old Belgian Second Division. The fixtures were announced on 23 June 2016.
Contents
Structural changes
This season is the first under the name First Division B as a result of reforms in the Belgian football league system. The format of the league has been completely overhauled, with the season now consisting of two separate tournaments. The first tournament will be held from August to December, the second from January until April. The two tournament winners will play a two legged playoff to determine who is promoted to the 2017–18 Belgian First Division A. If a team wins both tournaments, it automatically clinches promotion. The top three teams in the aggregate table besides the promoted team will take part in the Europa League playoffs together with the teams in the 2016–17 Belgian First Division A finishing in positions 7 through 15. The remaining four teams will play a relegation playoff to determine the one team that will drop into the 2017–18 Belgian First Amateur Division.
Team changes
Due to the reformation, only 7 teams of the previous season remained in the league, with 1 other being replaced. As a result the league moved from 17 to 8 teams.
Out
In
Aggregate table
Promotion play-offs
The winners of the opening tournament and the closing tournament meet in a two-legged match to determine the division champion, who will promote to the 2017–18 Belgian First Division A. The team finishing highest in the aggregate table will play the second leg at home. In case one team wins both the opening and the closing tournament, these matches will not be played and the team is promoted automatically.
On 6 November 2016, Roeselare won the opening tournament and was therefore assured of playing at least the promotion play-offs. Following a loss against Antwerp on the penultimate day of the closing tournament, Roeselare could no longer win the closing tournament and as a result the promotion play-offs will be held.
Relegation play-offs
The four bottom teams in the aggregate table will take part in the relegation play-offs in which they keep half of the points they collected during the overall regular season (rounded up). The team finishing in last position will relegate to the 2017–18 Belgian First Amateur Division.