The 26/27 edition of the Belgium Pro League brought a new change to the structure of the competition. Now I understand this isn’t the most exciting news but it left behind one of the bizarre and beloved league formats I have ever come across. It made no mathematical sense, with the end table often having teams finishing in 13th with more points than the teams above them.
The changes have now made the top flight of national football a league made up of 18 teams playing in a traditional round robin format. How boring and predictable. Before this the league had a system which you wouldn’t believe. Quick warning, this is going to get complicated.
The season starts off like normal, 16 teams each play each other home and away, we all know what we are doing here. Then being conventional stops, take a deep breath, pour yourself an espresso and get ready.
Step one all points are then halved, obviously. That healthy 4 point lead you had on your opponent now is now a slender 2 point gap. “What about odd numbers?” I hear you ask, surely a team can’t have a 0.5 of a point. The Belgians thought of this and they are rounded up. So a 5 point bit of breathing space is now changed to a less relaxing 3 point lead.
Next phase, divide the league into three groups and yes, 16 teams can’t be divided into three equal groups. Any other mathematicians out there triggered as to why they didn’t make the league out of 15 or 18 teams? Anyhow we move forward diving deeper into the Belgium Pro League inner workings.
The first mini league is made of the top 6 teams, known as the “Champions’ Play Offs”. The home and away round robin decides the country’s league champions, with the winners also qualifying for the champions league. With 2nd and 3rd going into the champions league qualifying round and the Europa League. Finally 4th place gets entered into the Europa Conference League, useless the team which finished 7th gets in the way.
Yes 7th place, breath and stay with me. The team which wins the second group, known as the “Europe Play Offs” is made up of the sides which finished the normal season in 7th to 12th place. The winner of this group then plays the single leg play off between 4th and 7th and decides who gets the European tour. Meaning that your team could finish the regular season in 12th place but turn your fortunes around and the next season you could be hopping on flights enjoying the delights of Europe. Tough luck 5th and 6th, you get nothing.
Finally, we enter the “Relegation Play Off”. Remember the points halved thing I mentioned at the beginning, doesn’t apply for this group. Please for the love of God don’t ask me why, just go with it. The remaining four teams play each twice. The team in 13th place is guaranteed safety, 15th and 16th straight down you go and 14th into the playoffs. These Belgians love a play off. This one is to fight to stay in the league against the winners of the second division promotion playoff. I told you, they love a play off.
Meaning that with all these play offs, the final weekend of Belgium football is pure cinema. So many games with so much to play for, it doesn’t matter if you cannot fathom who is playing who and why. All you need to know is that every game absolutely matters.
Concluding to the final and somber conclusion of this headache of an article. I’m gutted the Belgium league has now switched to a traditional 18 team round robin. Why must every league be the same, we should celebrate these differences. As well imagine being a fan of a top flight division team. The league simply doesn’t allow you to have a “nothing season” you are always in a contest and a fight for something. Embrace the chaotic finale to the very end!
Apparently the new model is “simpler to understand” or whatever. I will miss you and your madness Belgium Pro League. And to any other league who doesn’t obey convention, never change.
