Belgian clubs feel the pinch

By Svend Frandsen

Belgian first division clubs are getting an early taste of what the UEFA club licensing project, which comes into force in the 2004/05 season, will mean to the future of football.

Calls for reduction
For years there have been calls from the top clubs to lower the number of teams in the Eerste Klasse, as the financial resources to maintain no fewer than 18 sides seem scarce in a country of only 9.9m inhabitants. While the Belgian Football Association (URBSFA-KBVB) has been reluctant to cut down the number of sides in the division, one of its recent initiatives could well cause this to happen anyway.

Tough financial demands
The fact is a number of Eerst Klasse teams are struggling to meet the demands of obtaining a professional licence, which is a requisite to remain among the country's football élite. Since 1999 Belgian clubs have had to prove a certain degree of financial solvency - notably, the ability to guarantee players' wages for the coming season - to acquire this permit.

Beveren survived
This has created a heavy financial burden for the majority of sides and when RWD Molenbeek and KSC Eendracht Aalst failed to meet the financial criteria last season they were relegated to the third division, allowing KSK Beveren, who had finished bottom of the table but managed to obtain their licence, to remain in the top flight.

February deadline
This year, the rules have been toughened and the deadlines shortened, with clubs asked to have all debts paid by 31 December in order to get the green light for the 2003/04 season. The clubs have until the end of February to present proof that they have fulfilled the URBSFA-KBVB's demands - otherwise they will have to appear before an appeals commission to seek a reprieve, and changing the final verdict might prove difficult as they are no longer allowed to present new financial evidence before the commission that makes the final decision.

Troubled Mechelen
Meanwhile, the URBSFA-KBVB has also ruled that a team unable to acquire the professional licence will not be replaced by a relegated club who have the financial means. This could carry real significance for next season as KV Mechelen have already admitted they do not have the financial wherewithal to gain the professional licence and so face automatic demotion to the third tier.

Peculiar situation
This means that if Mechelen, who are currently second from bottom, finish out of the relegation places, then they will join the bottom two in exiting the division; and the Eerste Klasse will have only 17 teams next term. With some of the more prestigious clubs pushing hard for a reduced division, this has created the peculiar situation whereby the likes of RSC Anderlecht and KV Club Brügge have starting transferring some of their lesser squad members to Mechelen, 1987 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winners, for free in order to help their prospects of finishing 16th or higher.

Good exercise
Mechelen apart, it remains to be seen how many teams will make the financial 'cut' for next season, but at least Belgian sides are now geared for the demands of the UEFA club licensing project in the years to come. Whoever said the Belgian league was boring?