The 2022–23 Belgian Division 3 is the seventh season of the division in its current format, placed at the fifth-tier of football in Belgium.

Team changes In Relegated from the 2021–22 Belgian Division 2 were Houtvenne, Wijgmaal, Couvin-Mariembourg, Givry and Durbuy. Promoted from the Belgian Provincial Leagues were: Champions for each of the provincial leagues: Wezel (Antwerp), Léopold (Brabant ACFF), Kampenhout (Brabant VV), Hoger Op Kalken (East Flanders), Monceau (Hainaut), La Calamine (Liège), Libramont (Luxembourg), Ciney (Namur), Wielsbeke (West-Flanders) In Limburg, Schoonbeek-Beverst took over the promotion spot of champions Achel, who did not ask for licence and were hence ineligible for promotion. Due to teams folding and/or voluntarily relegating at this and higher levels, extra spots opened up: Two extra teams were promoted from East-Flanders: Elene Grotenberge and Aalter. Two extra teams were promoted from West-Flanders: Roeselare-Daisel and Wervik. Winners of the interprovincial round on VV side: ASV Geel, Drongen and Rumbeke. Winners of the interprovincial round on ACFF side: Meix-dt-Virton.

Out Directly promoted into the Belgian Division 2 were 2021–22 Belgian Division 3 champions Oostkamp (VV A), Racing Mechelen (VV B), Union Namur (ACFF A) and Dison (ACFF B). Six teams also gained promotion following wins in the promotion play-offs: Lebbeke, Torhout, Erpe-Mere United, Lille, Turnhout and Binche. Relegated based on their finishing positions last season were Melsele, Sint-Niklaas and Rhode-De Hoek from division VV A, De Kempen, Berlaar-Heikant and Koersel from division VV B, Pont-à-Celles-Buzet and Stockel from division ACFF A, and Oppagne-Wéris, Wanze Bas-Oha and Gouvy from division ACFF B. Due to financial difficulties, Lochristi opted to drop down to the Belgian Provincial Leagues.

Belgian Division 3 VV A

League table

Belgian Division 3 VV B

League table

Belgian Division 3 ACFF A

League table

Belgian Division 3 ACFF B

League table

Championship matches Both the two VV and two ACFF teams winning their leagues can arrange a title match to determine the overall VV and ACFF champions of the Belgian Division 3. This season, the overall ACFF champion was decided in a single match, with Rochefort winning the title. On VV side, Overijse and Wezel decided not to play a championship match. There was hence also no match between the overall VV and ACFF champions.

Championship match ACFF

Rochefort was awarded the symbolic title of Belgian Division 3 ACFF champion.

Promotion play-offs

Promotion play-offs VV The teams finishing in second place in the Belgian Division 3 VV A and Belgian Division 3 VV B take part in a promotion playoff first round together with the three period winners from both these divisions. These 8 teams from the VV play the first round of a promotion playoff, with the four winners moving into round 2. The winners of round 2 are promoted to the 2023–24 Belgian Division 2. Losing teams continue in round 3 in case extra places open up.

In both divisions, the teams in places 2 through 5 qualified as no teams outside the top 5 had managed to win a period.

VV Round 1

Wielsbeke, Kalken, Wellen and Hamme were eliminated. The winning teams qualified for the Promotion play-offs VV Round 2.

VV Round 2

Voorde-Appelterre and Houtvenne were promoted, while Termien and Geel will enter round 3 of the VV play-offs.

VV Round 3

By winning, ASV Geel became first in line to promote in case a spot opened up.

Promotion play-offs ACFF The teams finishing in second place in the Belgian Division 3 ACFF A and Belgian Division 3 ACFF B take part in a promotion playoff first round together with the three period winners from both these divisions. These eight teams played off for one single promotion place up for grabs.

In the ACFF B division, the teams in places 2 through 5 qualified as no teams outside the top 5 had managed to win a period, however this was not the case in ACFF A where 8th-place finisher Manageoise won a period and qualified, together with the teams in places 2 through 4.

ACFF Round 1

Richelle, Manageoise, Symphorinois and Onhaye were eliminated. The winning teams qualified for the Promotion play-offs ACFF Round 2.

ACFF Round 2

La Calamine and Tournai were promoted, while Raeren-Eynatten and Habay were eliminated.

ACFF Round 3

The match had no significance as both clubs were already certain of promotion.

Relegation play-offs ACFF

Prior to the match, results in higher divisions had resulted in this match becoming obsolete as both winner and loser of the match would be spared of relegation. The match was played nonetheless.

VV

Prior to the match, it was known that the loser of this VV play-off would be relegated, while the winner would need to await the results of higher divisions. Drongen was thus relegated while Witgoor Dessel was unsure. On 27 May 2023, following the loss of La Louvière Centre in the Promotion play-offs Final of the 2022–23 Belgian Division 2, there would be no extra relegations on VV side and hence Witgoor was spared of relegation.

Number of teams by provinces Number of teams Province or region Team(s) in VV A Team(s) in VV B Team(s) in ACFF A Team(s) in ACFF B8 Aalter, Drongen, Elene Grotenberge, Hamme, Kalken, Lede, Stekene and Voorde-Appelterre none – – – – Gosselies, Manage, Monceau, Ostiches-Ath, Mons, Saint-Ghislain, Symphorinois, Tournai none7 none Geel, Houtvenne, Nijlen, Sint-Lenaarts, Wezel, Witgoor and Zwarte Leeuw – – Eppegem, Overijse and Wolvertem Merchtem Betekom, Diest, Kampenhout and Wijgmaal – – – – none Aywaille, Herstal, Huy, La Calamine, Raeren-Eynatten, Richelle, Sprimont – – none Durbuy, Givry, Habay, Libramont, Marloie, Meix-dt-Virton, Mormont6 – – Aische, Couvin-Mariembourg, Onhaye and Tamines Ciney and Rochefort5 none Beringen, Pelt, Schoonbeek-Beverst, Termien and Wellen – –Anzegem, Roeselare-Daisel, Rumbeke, Wervik and Wielsbeke none – –2 none none Léopold and Schaerbeek none – – CS Braine and Jodoigne none

References