The Belgian professional football license is a license that any team qualified to play the Jupiler League must have obtained. If a qualified team does not obtain the license, it is relegated to the third division. When the license was introduced, it was decided that a team without the license would not be replaced, but it is still not effective. A similar license is given to clubs in the second division, but it is looser.

[edit] Terms

To be considered professional, a club must, a.o.:

• play or qualify for the first division;
• dispose of at least 20 players having the status of remunerated player;
• dispose of a stadium with the following conditions:
  • its luminosity is of at least 800 lux at the beginning of the second season played in first division;
  • the ground must measure between 64 and 75 m (width) and 105 and 110 m (length);
  • the stadium must be of a capacity of at least 8,000 with minimum 5,000 seats;

[edit] References

• Belgian FA official website - Rules