As a result, RWDM is allowed to remain in the second division while the U23 Team of Club Brugge, called Club NXT, will be relegated to the amateur league.

This decision stems from a complaint filed in June 2025 by three football clubs: Royal Francs Borains (RFB), RFC Seraing (Seraing) and KSC Lokeren (Lokeren). These clubs, later joined by Racing White Daring Molenbeek (RWDM), argued that new rules adopted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (the RBFA) favoured teams of young players owned by major football clubs active in the first division, as the new rules (i) imposed a minimum number of U23 Teams in the second division, and (ii) prevented these U23 Teams from being relegated to the amateur league, barring exceptional circumstances (the Quota). As a result of the Quota, a club could be relegated to the amateur league at the end of the season despite being better ranked than a U23 Team.

This situation materialised. Pursuant to the Quota, RWDM was at risk of being relegated to the amateur league despite being ranked 13 out of 17, because (i) two clubs must be relegated at the end of the season and, (ii) except for Olympic Charleroi (ranked last), all the other clubs below RWDM were U23 Teams.

The four clubs therefore sought interim measures seeking a suspension of the Quota. In its decision, the BCA granted their request, confirming its August 2025 assessment that the Quota is prima facie anticompetitive and finding that there was urgency to act in order to prevent serious, imminent and irreparable harm. The BCA therefore suspended the Quota until the completion of the investigation on the merits of the case. As a result, the last two clubs of the ranking, i.e., Olympic Charleroi and Club NXT, will be relegated to the amateur league. Conversely, RWDM maintains its place in the second division.

Jean-François Bellis and Valérie Lefever of this firm acted as counsel to the successful plaintiffs.