KAA Gent's legal challenge against Pro League format rejected

KAA Gent's appeal to the Belgian Arbitration Court for Sport (BAS) was declared unfounded, confirming that the club will not take any further legal steps against the Pro League's new competition format that includes an 18‑team league without play‑offs and four guaranteed U23 places.

Gent argued that the vote on 27 February 2025 was a single, indivisible package, linking the 18‑team structure with the U23 quota. The club maintained that removing the quota should trigger a full reconsideration of the entire agreement.

The dispute originated because the promised U23 quota was later abolished, prompting Gent to bring the case before both the BAS and the Brussels enterprise court. The BAS declared the procedure admissible but ultimately unfounded.

Gent pointed to the role of KRC Genk, which supported the original package due to its interest in keeping Jong Genk in the Challenger Pro League. The club also highlighted that other U23 sides such as RSCA Futures and Club NXT relied on the guaranteed places, arguing that their removal undermined the original agreement.

The Pro League clubs had approved the package with a two‑thirds majority, combining the 18‑team, no‑play‑offs format with four guaranteed U23 spots in the Challenger Pro League. The abolition of the quota, however, left Gent insisting the whole deal must be revisited.

Despite Gent's determination, the club announced it will not pursue any further legal avenues, acknowledging the limited likelihood of a new vote on the format before the next season's schedule is set.

The next battleground, is the proposed abolition of the play‑offs, which the club hopes will be reopened for discussion within the Pro League. Gent hopes a new vote will address this issue before the calendar is finalized.