Discover the RBFA's annual report for 2023

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CONTENT
CONTENT ANNUAL REPORT 2023
ANNUAL REPORT 2023 CONTENT
01
WHO ARE WE?
One mission, five values
Facts & Figures
A year without any internatinal
tournament
Finances in 2023
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03
CLOSER TO OUR
MEMBERS
Closer to our fans
Commercia: renewed contracts
Customer-oriented service
RBFA Knowledge Centre
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FOOTBALL FIRST
Red Devils
Red Flames
Women's Euro U19
Refereeing
Futsal
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»
»
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BECAUSE WE CARE
Come Together
Red Courts
Because We Care
Governance
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05
NEW GOALS
What brings 2024?
Red Devils
Keep investing in women's
football
Finance
IT project Fenix
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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WELCOME

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VOORWOORD JAARVERSLAG 2021
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As Belgium’s largest sports federation with half a million members spread across our two regional
federations, which together host 5,000 football matches annually, we bear a great responsibility.
We want to serve our members and their clubs first and foremost, but also continue to fulfil our
social role.
Our sport continues to drive huge crowds, with the Red Devils as the strongest catalyst. They are
our national superstars and captivate the entire nation every two years.
In 2023, we put the disappointment of Qatar 2022 behind us and, with a new coaching staff led by
Domenico Tedesco, we once again walked the path of success. A winning streak that will hopefully
be maintained this summer.
The Red Devils qualified as group winners for the European Championship in Germany with a re-
vamped and rejuvenated team. All this was expertly supported by the #WirSchaffenDas campaign,
which was clearly popular with the public.
Despite high hopes, our U21 were unable to live up to their ambition – qualify for the Paris Olympic
Games – at the European Championship in Georgia.
Once again, our Red Flames proved that they can also deliver a strong performance in a tough
group. Anyone who can beat top countries such as England and the Netherlands at home should be
really proud.
Not only our national teams, but our referees, too, were in the spotlight. Our referees are professi-
onals. They manage many games on a weekly basis, and deserve our support and everyone’s res-
pect. Yet, they sometimes have a hard time and their performance is examined with a magnifying
glass. In 2023, the RBFA launched a new strategic plan for refereeing to further improve the quality.
And the RBFA’s management also experienced a turbulent year, with the departure of CEO Peter
Bossaert and President Paul Van den Bulck. Pascale Van Damme was appointed as the new Presi-
dent, while Manu Leroy, Marketing and Communications Director, took the role of interim CEO until
the end of the year. Piet Vandendriessche was appointed as the new CEO in mid-December, and
started on 16 January 2024.
PASCALE VAN DAMME
PIET VANDENDRIESSCHE

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VOORWOORD
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JAARVERSLAG 2021
Together with Germany and the Netherlands, we put together a strong joint bid book to co-host
the Women’s Football World Cup in 2027; we successfully organised the European Football Cham-
pionship for girls under 19; we presented the first Come Together awards, inaugurated several Red
Courts and started work on the development of the brand-new Fenix
platform, an innovative RBFA
project aimed at modernising and optimising the administrative platforms within the Belgian foot-
ball family. With a strong focus on automation, self-service and increasing member engagement,
Fenix should provide a future-proof system that optimally supports both amateur and professional
clubs.
Despite a significant loss in 2023, the financial situation of the RBFA remains healthy.
There are many challenges ahead and we must now work on measures aimed at structurally impro-
ving future revenue streams and rationalising costs.
Together with the new President and CEO, we plan to turn the RBFA back into a healthy and ser-
vice-oriented organisation, serving the entire football ecosystem. We will create a healthy financial
foundation for the Federation on which to build further in the coming years.
We are looking forward to a successful EURO 2024 for the Red Devils this summer and to a succes-
sful Red Flames qualifying campaign for EURO 2025.
PIET VANDENDRIESSCHE
CEO RBFA
PASCALE VAN DAMME
President RBFA

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WHO ARE WE
01
Who are the people and the teams of our Royal
Belgian Football Association? Besides our
passion for football, what drives us? And which
values
do we hold dear? This is summed up here
for you with fact-based examples and precise
figures.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The RBFA is managed by the Board of Directors, appoin-
ted on the recommendation of the Pro League, Voetbal
Vlaanderen and the ACFF, as well as two independent di-
rectors. The current composition of the Board of Directors
is as follows::
Van Damme Pascale
President
Godin Philippe
Vice-President
Vasseur Benjamin
Board member
Jaecques Sven
Board member
Locht Pierre
Board member
Vandenhaute Wouter
Board member
Lagast Frank
Board member
Keldermans Jorg
Board member
Vanspauwen Johny
Board member
Kesteman Roberte
Board member
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The day-to-day management of the RBFA is carried out
by the General Secretary/CEO, supported by the Manage-
ment Committee. The current composition of the Ma-
nagement Committee is as follows:
Piet Vandendriessche
CEO
Manu Leroy
Marketing & Communication
Pegie Leys
Legal & Competitions
Sylvie Marissal
HR & Sustainibility Director
Peter Willems
Sport & Refereeing
https://www.rbfa.be/en/about-us/who-are-we/ma-
nagement-committee

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FROM GLOBAL TO REGIONAL
Here, we would like to introduce you to the hierarchy of the various
football federations, from the global FIFA to the regional Voetbal
Vlaanderen and ACFF. Now, you’ll know exactly what those acronyms
stand for!
The Pro League represents professional
football and unites all Belgian professional
football clubs.
FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the
International Federation of Association Football which we co-founded
in 1904. It organises the World Cup tournaments for national teams
and clubs.
UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) organises all European
football tournaments for clubs and national teams, as well as the
European Championship qualification and the European section of the
FIFA World Cup qualification.
RBFA (Royal Belgian Football Association, our official
international name), unites Belgian amateur and professional
football on the federal level. We set the rules at national
level and take care of the administrative and sporting
organisation of football in Belgium.
VV (Football Flanders) is the regional,
independent federation that manages
amateur football in Flanders.
ACFF (Association des Clubs Francophones de
Football) manages amateur football in the French
and German-speaking part of our country.
...AND A SOLID BASE
The much broader base of grassroots football is just as important as
the top of the football pyramid. Together with our regional federati-
ons, we organise the competitions (430,000 matches) and support
the clubs (3,459 compared to 3,684 last season) in all divisions and
series: for professionals and amateurs, girls and boys, on the field
and indoors, from U6 players to veterans and walking football players
(568,385 members, compared to 551,506 last year). While levels may
differ, the football experience remains equally intense for all.
568.385
MEMBERS
INSPIRING AND STRONG TOP TEAMS...
Now that most of the so-called ‘golden generation’ of Red Devils have
taken their leave, a new – young – generation is getting ready to as-
cend to soccer heaven. We are no longer the best football country in
the world, but under the leadership of our new head coach Domenico
Tedesco, we once again harbour the hope of reaching the highest
attainable goal. Following a smooth EURO qualification, part of that
journey has already been successfully completed. The enthusiasm
for the team, which seemed to die down for a while after the World
Cup, quickly bubbled up again. The Red Devils remain the strongest
brand, and Belgium’s most famous export.
At the same time, the Red Flames, our national women’s team, once
again delivered good performances in the newly established UEFA
Nations League. Beating both England and the Netherlands in just
a few weeks is no small feat. As a result, more and more girls are
choosing to play football.
01 WHO ARE WE ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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AMBITION
The RBFA is organising
and developing football
in our country to ensure
it remains not only the
most practised, but also
the most inclusive and
exciting sport. Ultimately,
we want to reach everyone
through football.
organising
and developing
football
MISSION
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ONE MISSION,
FIVE VALUES
As a modern federation, we must lead by example.
That is why our values determine what we do and do
not do. These values are embedded in our DNA, and
serve as the guiding principles for our daily work:
1 . SPORTMANSHIP
Wanting to win and being able to lose, such is the
essence of sport. We set the bar high, also in terms of
fair play. As a result, we make football better together,
while enjoying the fun of playing.
2 . INTEGRITY
As an open and transparent organisation, we want
to keep football fair and honest. That is why we set
an example by being a reliable and loyal partner for
everyone, internally and externally.
3 . INCLUSIVITY
Sport transcends differences in backgrounds and
beliefs. We are actively promoting diversity and want
to connect people to ensure that our sport reflects
society.
4 . TEAM SPIRIT
Football is the ultimate team sport. Both on and off
the field, we realise that we depend on our teammates
to succeed. That is why we are joining forces as
ambassadors for our sport.
5 . SERVICE ORIENTATION
To achieve optimal results and maximum impact, we
are building sustainable relationships with all our
stakeholders. As a modern organisation, we remain
accessible and customer-oriented.
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01 WIE WE ZIJN EN WAT WE DOEN JAARVERSLAG 2022 WIE WE ZIJN EN WAT WE DOEN 01
JAARVERSLAG 2022
JAARVERSLAG 2022
174
RBFA COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
74
REMUNERATED
REFEREES
42
AVERAGE AGE
LANGUAGE
43%
FRENCH
57%
DUTCH
GENDER
68%
MALE
32%
FEMALE
225
EMPLOYEES
FACTS &
FIGURES
3.459
568.385
CLUBS
MEMBERS
FC
FEDERATION
2.686 Voetbal
Vlaanderen
718 ACFF
55 RBFA
GENDER
515.755 men
52.630 women (+7%)
NATIONALITY
528.224 Belgian
40.161 other
MEMBERSHIP TYPE
(At least) 414.000 players
28.500 coaches
4.700 referees
11.100 club administrators
FORMAT
550.033 football
16.227 mini-football
19.006 futsal
AGE
273.255 adults
295.190 youth
FEDERATION
331.982 Voetbal
Vlaanderen
232.667 ACFF
5.222 KBVB
* Some sums may be higher, as members may
compete in more than one format or federation.
FORMAT
1.840 football
1.265 mini-football
581 futsal
29 offer multiple disciplines
matches per season
430.000
4.216
3.077
grass
799
artificial
340
indoor
stewards
1.304
members of the 1895
Official Belgian Fan Club
14.071
pitches for
official competition matches
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2023 ...A YEAR WITHOUT ANY
INTERNATIONALTOURNAMENT
The RBFA’s financial performance is highly dependent on international tourna-
ments (European championships and World Cup competitions). Given that no
international tournament was planned in 2023, we were expecting the financi-
al year to be difficult.
HOWEVER, THE LOSS WAS GREATER THAN
ANTICIPATED.
We faced a loss of revenue in a series of Red Devil matches, an
increase in operating expenses and a series of major organisa-
tional changes.
AN ACCOUNTING LOSS OF 11.903 MILLION EUROS FOR
THE 2023 CALENDAR YEAR
We recorded an accounting loss of 11.903 million euros for
the 2023 calendar year, compared to a budgeted loss of 6.014
million euros. In addition, an amount of 969,000 euros was
charged to the accrued funds. The operating loss ultimately
amounted to 10.934 million euros.
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Geconsolideerde P&L
in € 1000
Actuals
2023
Budget
REVENUE
Competities
Scheidsrechters
Sport
Commercieel
Subsidies
Verzekeringen
Diversen
KOSTEN
Competities
Scheidsrechters
Commercieel
Subsidies
Sport
IT
People & Sustainibility
Corporate
Facilities
Verzekeringen
Diversen
GERAPPORTEERDE EBIT
FONDSEN
TE VERDELEN WINST
76,286
13,500
6,198
7,818
26,511
12,736
7,793
1,730
88,189
5,488
11,575
9,438
4,314
31,433
5,946
2,406
5,111
5,038
6,471
969
-11,903
969
-10,934
76,635
13,256
5,988
8,786
26,745
12,945
7,150
1,765
82,649
5,370
11,634
9,377
5,105
28,549
5,940
2,440
4,638
3,952
5,644
-6,014
-349
244
210
-968
-234
-209
643
-35
5,540
118
-59
61
-791
2,884
6
-34
473
1,086
827
969
-5,889
0%
2%
4%
-11%
-1%
-2%
9%
-2%
7%
2%
-1%
1%
-15%
10%
0%
-1%
10%
27%
15%
98%
%
31.12.2023
VARIOUS ELEMENTS
DISRUPTED OUR FINANCES
IN 2023.
TICKET SALES FOR RED DEVILS MATCHES BELOW EXPECTATIONS
1.400
1.200
1.000
800
600
400
200
0
Germany-Belgium
03/23
Belgium-Austria
06/23
Belgium-Estonia
09/23
Belgium-Sweden
10/23
Belgium-Azerbadjan
11/23
Belgium-Serbia
11/23
Budget Results
Games Revenues - Budget vs. Results
Although the match against Austria augured well in terms of ticket sales, the match against
Estonia in September 2023 proved disappointing, with only 54% of tickets sold compared to
forecasts.
Bad weather conditions in November 2023 made the pitch at the King Baudouin Stadium un-
playable and for safety reasons the match against Serbia ultimately had to be played behind
closed doors. This meant a loss of revenue of 900,000 euros compared to expectations.
Ticket sales for the last match of the year against Azerbaijan were also disappointing. The at-
tacks that took place before the match against Sweden in October 2023 certainly affected the
spectators.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
01 WHO ARE WE

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EXPENSES RELATED TO OUR NATIONAL TEAMS
The expenses related to our national teams (Red Devils, Women and Youth) as well as the
operating expenses of the Proximus Basecamp were higher than expected..
FACILITIES
The buildings in Hasselt and Wommelgem could not be sold in 2023, which meant that we
were still bearing the operating expenses and depreciation of these two buildings, while they
were no longer included in the budget. A new wealth tax regime, which now applies to the
assets of all non-profit organisations in Belgium, also had an impact, which will be recurring
in the coming years.
ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES
Various procedures related to organisational changes and the termination of the collabo-
ration with the former CEO and chairman had a financial impact in terms of legal costs and
recruitment costs.
BALANCE
RBFA
in € 1000 FY
ASSETS
Fixed assets
Current assets
LIABILITIES
Equities
Provisions
Debts > 1 yr
Debts < 1 yr
Deferred
89,783
48,082
41,701
89,783
42,245
478
90
41,583
5,387
31.12.2023
LY
90,188
45,421
44,767
90,188
55,084
478
146
27,859
6,621
-405
-2.661
-3,066
-405
137
137
1.152
1.110
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OUR BALANCE SHEET
We closed the year 2023 with a total balance sheet of approximately 90 million euros, of which
47% in equity. Our equity remains robust despite the losses incurred in 2023 and the RBFA
currently does not use external financing.
7.000
6.000
5.000
4.000
3.000
2.000
1.000
0
Red Devils U-Youth Women's Basecamp
Costs Budget
Expenses related to our national teams
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
01 WHO ARE WE

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FOOTBALL FIRST
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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On March 24, the new cohort of Red Devils began the European
Championship qualifying campaign in Sweden with great enthusi-
asm. Wout Faes made his debut at the centre back. Romelu Lukaku,
who scored three times, was man of the match. But Dodi Lukebakio
also played a great game, delivering virtuoso actions on the flank.
0-3, the campaign couldn’t have started better.
A few days later, on March 28, the delegation travelled to Cologne,
where the first really big test on the programme was a friendly match
in the home country of the new head coach.
And, there in the RheinEnergie Stadium, it turned out to be a celebra-
tion, as Belgium stunned the whole of Germany.
Led by new captain Kevin De Bruyne, a once again sublime Dodi Lu-
kebakio and cheered by almost 2,000 Belgian fans, the Red Devils
got off to a flying start and took the lead with 0-2 and 1-3. Eventu-
ally, German national coach Hansi Flick’s team did not come closer
than 2-3. It was the first Belgian victory on German soil since 1954.
And that under the leadership of a German coach, who clearly did
not miss his start.
Domenico Tedesco was appointed as the
national team’s new head coach on 9 Fe-
bruary 2023. On the same day, Frank Ver-
cauteren was appointed Sports Director
Football and Jelle Schelstraete Operational
Director Football.
The trio then proceeded to rejuvenate the
Red Devils. With a completely different
approach than his predecessor Roberto
Martínez, Tedesco led the Red Devils to
RED DEVILS’
SPORTING PERFORMANCE
EURO 2024, their sixth consecutive qualifi-
cation for a major tournament!
Clarity, directness and consistency. With
these three principles, the young Ger-
man-Italian coach put staff and players on
edge.
An approach that immediately paid off, be-
cause he stunned everyone in his first two
matches. Let’s take a look back!
ANNUAL REPORT 2023 FOOTBALL FIRST 02
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RED
DEVILS

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EDEN
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The stadium was sold out, all supporters wore red and
45,000 red cards were used to create a stadium-sized
tifo while the former 59-time captain with 126 caps ran
his lap of honour. The fans went crazy. Thibaut Cour-
tois was honoured for his 100th cap as a Red Devil.
Head coach Domenico Tedesco made his debut in the
King Baudouin Stadium that day, unfortunately not se-
curing a victory in his first international home game.
After an exciting match, the Devils drew 1-1 with Aus-
tria. A fair result.
EDEN HAZARD
A DEVIL’S
FAREWELL
Eden Hazard – voted the most
iconic football figure in 125 years
of Belgian football history by
supporters in 2021 – was given a
Devil’s farewell on June 17 during
the match against Austria
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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FOOTBALL FIRST 02

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02 VOETBAL OP TOPNIVEAU
In September, our national team re-
sumed the EURO qualification cam-
paign with an away match in the
remote Azerbaijan. In the small sta-
dium of Markadam, just outside the
capital Baku, the Red Devils – with
Koen Casteels in goal – had a dif-
ficult evening, against a deserving
opponent. A shot by Johan Bakayoko
that found the back of the net after
deflecting off Yannick Carrasco’s leg
was the only goal of the match, gi-
ving the Devils a win over the Azeris.
Three days later, the Red Devils over-
powered Estonia in a gala match. In
this home game, Jan Vertonghen
celebrated his 150th cap by leading
the Belgians to a comfortable 5-0
win after just four minutes.
The full stadium exploded at Doku’s
dashing dribbles and the wonderful
goals shot by Trossard, Lukaku and
De Ketelaere. The guard of honour for
“Sterke Jan” (Strong Jan) completed
the gala evening. Qualifying for EURO
2024 could no longer escape us.
In the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna,
the road to Germany was wide open
when the Devils were leading 0-3
twenty minutes before the end. The
match turned into a thriller, however,
when Austria came back to 2-3 by the
final whistle blow. But the door to the
Belgian goal had remained closed. We
had qualified!
What remained was the group win
and a favourable spot in the final
tournament draw on December 2 in
Hamburg.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
In Tallinn (Estonia), Domenico Tedesco continued the rejuvena-
tion by adding Aster Vranckx, Mike Trésor and Johan Bakayoko
to the starting line-up. The Devils had a difficult first half, but
eventually won smoothly with 0-3. After such a great end to
the football season, the Devils started the summer holidays
with a nice score: 7 out of 9.
In Tallinn Domenico Tedesco continued
the rejuvenation
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FOOTBALL FIRST 02

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EEN EK EN EEN WK IN ÉÉN JAAR 02
In the run-up to the final home-game against Azerbaijan, the Red
Devils played a friendly match against Serbia. As the field at the King
Boudewijn Stadium was unplayable due to heavy rainfall, the match
was relocated to Leuven where, for practical reasons, it was play-
ed behind closed doors. The Red Devils won by the smallest margin
thanks to an early goal by Yannick Carrasco.
A few days later on Sunday 19 November, the field in Brussels was
ready again for the gala game against Azerbaijan. Belgium would still
be a group winner if it were to win. The Red Devils, with an unstoppa-
ble Jérémy Doku and a particularly deft Romelu Lukaku, were already
leading 4-0 at halftime. Romelu scored those four first-half goals!
Leandro Trossard put the icing on the cake. Not just with that match,
but during the entire qualifying campaign, Domenico Tedesco com-
pleted his first season with flying colours
Shortly before kick-off of the match against Sweden, two
Swedish football fans were shot dead in central Brussels
The game kicked off, but it soon became apparent that it would
not last ninety minutes. When the news of the fatal shooting
reached Swedish players at halftime, it quickly became clear
that continuing to play was not an option. After consultation it
was decided to abandon the match with a 1-1 score. The RBFA,
which would have benefited from a victory for the Red Devils
and the associated group win, put human safety first. We could
not be a group winner, so be it.
Three days later, UEFA confirmed the result.
The attitude of the 35,000 spectators, who had to stay in the
stadium for two hours after the match was abandoned for safe-
ty reasons, was also commendable. It was safer there than on
the streets of Brussels.
02 FOOTBALL FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 2023
The Red Devils,
with an unstoppable
Jérémy Doku and
a particularly
deft Romelu Lukaku,
were already
leading 4-0 at halftime!
With the qualification secu-
red, football-loving Belgium
celebrated, until football
faded into the background on
that dramatic October 16 and
sporting interests gave way to
human interests.
FOOTBALL FIRST 02

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The group stage in February, with participation in the
Arnold Clark Cup in England, augured well. The natio-
nal coach had plenty of time to rejuvenate his team,
and brought along two young debutantes, Valesca
Ampoorter and Michelle Colson. Marie Detruyer quick-
ly got her chance to shine.
The Flames started the tournament strong, with an
unexpected 2-1 victory against Italy, followed by
a 2-1 win against South Korea. Unfortunately, they
came up far too short against reigning European
champions England, with a leaky defence and a bat-
tered midfield. However, the national coach did not
want to use this as an excuse for the heavy 6-1 de-
feat at Bristol’s Ahston Gate Stadium. England were
just way too strong.
At the time, we did not know that we would meet
England again in the final.
In April in Austria, the Flames had the prospect of a
victory, but they blew a 0-2 lead and lost 3-2. The
type of match from which you can learn lessons as a
group, but four days later at home against Slovenia,
our women’s team handed over an almost certain vi-
ctory. Once again, a lead was lost and the opponent
brought the score to a draw at the very end (2-2).
Coach Ives Serneels definitely had his work cut out,
especially when the names of the opponents in the
Nations League were revealed on May 2. Not a tough
draw, but certainly challenging: England, Netherlands
and Scotland.
The last friendly match of the season, on July 2 in
Kerkrade against the Netherlands, was supposed to
be a yard stick for the new women’s tournament.
However, it became a loud wake-up call for the Fla-
mes. Once again, they were outclassed and lost
without a chance to score with 5-0.
While the Orange Lionesses were on the road to the
World Cup with confidence, the Belgians’ fear of
failure in the A group of the Nations League only in-
creased.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Since the Red Flames weren’t competing in
the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand,
they had to wait until the beginning of Sep-
tember for their first high-stake match.
Their elimination from the World Cup by
Portugal lingered for a long time and when
the tournament was underway, they must
have felt the bitter aftertaste for a whi-
RED FLAMES
le. But lo and behold, the Red Flames had
clearly washed away that disappointment
altogether by the start of the new cam-
paign.
Fortunately, there were great away matches
in 2023, enabling them to get totally ready
before the Nations League – the first of its
kind for women players – would kick off.
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RED
FLAMES
FOOTBALL FIRST 02

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02 VOETBAL OP TOPNIVEAU
It did, however, in Belgium, whe-
re the Flames, just like against the
Netherlands, fought back after a slow
start. From 1-2, they secured a 3-2
win. Another goal in the final minute,
but this time on the right side. Cap-
tain Tessa Wullaert was once again
crowned Flame of the Game. Yet, the
outcome in this group was far from
certain. Due to the 1-1 draw at home
against Scotland, anything was pos-
sible in the last matches and even
the goal difference would be decisive.
As a result of the Red Flames’ 4-0
defeat against the Netherlands in
Tilburg, the group win went to the
Netherlands and England – despite a
0-6 win in Scotland – came within a
whisker of the Final Four.
Belgium won twice in the double con-
frontation for retention in the A-lea-
gue with a decisive 5-1 score against
Hungary. The set goal had been
achieved.
In a sold-out King Power Stadium in
Leicester, Belgium played an excel-
lent match, during which they reco-
vered from the pressure after an early
onslaught and thus had a number
of scoring opportunities. It was the
progress that Ives Serneels wanted
to see. However, the miracle did not
happen in the English university city.
FAREWELLTO
STAR PERFORMER
JULIE BIESMANS
On September 22 in Leuven’s Den Dreef
stadium, the Red Flames and the large
crowd of fans said goodbye to Julie Bies-
mans, who ended her international ca-
reer after 104 international matches. The
Netherlands took a 0-1 lead, but barely a
minute later Marie Detruyer equalised. It
looked like the match would end with a 1-1
draw, until the Dutch goalkeeper misjudged
Blom’s header and the Belgians clinched
their surprise victory. The crowd went wild.
Against Scotland, it was the Belgians who
seemed to be heading for a victory with a
strong performance, until Scotland scored
the equaliser from an uncalled offside in
the closing seconds. There was no VAR.
Nevertheless, the Red Flames prepared
confidently for their double confrontation
with England.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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FIRST UEFA
WOMEN’S U19 EURO
IN BELGIUM
For the first time since 2007, the RBFA organised a European championship. After the 2007
men’s U17 European Championship featuring Eden Hazard, among others, the women’s U19
team competed for the European title in their own country from 18 to 30 July 2023.
In the Proximus Basecamp and Stade Leburton in Tubize, the Tivoli Stadium in La Louvière
and Leuven’s Den Dreef Stadium, two groups of four countries competed for the four se-
mi-final places
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
UEFA
WOMEN’S
U19
FOOTBALL FIRST 02

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The Belgians, guided by coach Xavier Donnay, opened against the
Netherlands and lost 0-3 despite a solid performance.
Our girls were not rewarded for their solid performance against
Germany either, despite the support of more than 2,500 spectators
in Stade Leburton. Once again, they suffered (an unnecessary) de-
feat: 0-2.
The miracle that they needed to qualify for the semi-finals in the
last match against Austria did not happen as expected. After all,
the Belgians had to win by five goals; instead, they finished with a
well-deserved 3-3 draw. Some players In the Belgian squad stood
out: Valesca Ampoorter, Marie Detruyer and Lore Jacobs. The first
two moved up to join the Red Flames almost immediately after the
tournament.
No semi-final for the Belgians who, in addition to group winner the
Netherlands, also saw Germany qualify. In the other group, Fran-
ce and Spain qualified for the semi-finals as expected. Favourite
Spain won 1-0 against the Netherlands and Germany came back
from 0-2 against France to eventually win 3-2 in extra time.
The 3,000 spectators at the final between Spain and Germany in
Leuven got their money’s worth. In a fiercely fought final that re-
mained goalless after 120 minutes, Spain ultimately became Euro-
pean champions in the penalty shootout: 3-2.
Despite the early elimination of the Belgian squad, it was a suc-
cessful tournament on an organisational level. More than 15,000
spectators came to see the future stars of women’s football. 37
volunteers lent a hand during an entire tournament, helping with
everything and everyone. 50 media representatives sought accre-
ditation for one or more matches. The championship reached over
a million people online.
The 76 young ball boys and girls also went home with fantastic
memories.
AND THEN THE
TOURNAMENT
REALLY STARTED.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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Belgium was playing in Group A
against Austria, Germany and the
Netherlands. Group B consisted of
France, Iceland, Spain and Czechia.
No opening match without an opening cere-
mony, or as befits this age group, an Opening
Festival. Performances by DJ duo ‘Toxic Cheer-
leaders’, Les Copines and Olivia put spectators
in optimal mood. While the young spectators
indulged in the games on the various stands,
influencer Céline Dept was also present, as
were several Red Flames who came to cheer
on their successors and spent plenty of time
taking selfies with the fans.
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Our Futsal Red Devils could not qualify for the 2024 World Cup in Uzbekistan.
The Belgians reached the Elite Round, but in a group with Serbia, Ukraine and
Poland, they achieved only one point. On the first matchday they drew 3-3
in Serbia. In the other matches, the opponent proved (far) too strong for our
Futsal Devils.
However, the preliminary round got off to an excellent start,
with monster scores against Austria (11-0 and 1-6). They
then lost twice against Georgia. Ultimately, a successful
penalty thriller in the play-off against Hungary opened the
gate to the Elite Round.
“A fantastic feeling”
said a proud national coach Karin Bachar afterwards..
They had worked hard for ten days in a good atmosphere.
More progress would be needed in the Elite Round. Based
on the result, it was too little.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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FUTSAL
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48
Later in the year, our Futsal Red Devils took part in a three-nations tournament in Caen, France, with
the host country and the Netherlands as opponents. They won 6-4 against the Dutch team and lost
against France with the same score.
“It was two derbies in perfect conditions,”
commented the national coach afterwards.
Our Red Flames Futsal also made their mark in December, with two victories in friendlies against
Northern Ireland in Roosdaal: 7-2 and 5-1. They clearly dominated both matches, playing in a convin-
cing fashion. Mariam Abdulai Toloba was the undeniable star with five goals.
Futsal will have a more prominent role in our new strategy, which is why we want to take further steps
to professionalise this sport.
02 FOOTBALL FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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50
An age-old catchphrase, yet still relevant. Every
year the pressure increases, their performances
are put under ever-increasing scrutiny and re-
ferees give up. The number of active refs in 2023
was 4,700, which is 100 fewer than in 2022.
HERE’S A TRUISM:
WITHOUT REFEREES,
THERE IS NO FOOTBALL.
2023 did start with good news for Belgian refereeing: assistant
referee Ella De Vries was selected by FIFA as A-VAR during the
Women’s Football World Cup in the summer in Australia and New
Zealand. This was the third major tournament for De Vries, after the
WEURO 2022 in England and the Women’s U20 World Cup in Costa
Rica. During the World Cup itself, she was appointed as Offside
Video Assistant Referee for the final between Spain and England,
which was a nice bonus.
Keeping with a yearly tradition, Technical Director of Professional
Refereeing Department (PRD) Bertrand Layec explained the rule
changes for the new 2023-2024 season in the summer. The most
important update from then on consisted in counting as added time
the time lost when celebrating a goal. There were also new rules
regarding yellow cards for handball fouls.
On Saturday, February 11, 2023, Viki De Cremer became the second
female referee to be appointed as the 4th Official in professional
football during the match KMSK Deinze - RSCA Futures.
In July 2023, Erik Lambrechts was selected for the U21 European
Championship, organized by Romania and Georgia, where he per-
formed excellently and refereed the semi-final. Due to his good
performance at the European Championship in July, Erik Lambrechts
made his Champions League debut on September 19, 2023, during
the match Manchester City - Young Boys..
BERTRAND LAYEC
ELLA DE VRIES
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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REFEREEING
02 FOOTBALL FIRST

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NEW PROFESSIONAL
REFEREEING STRATEGY
2023-2026
In addition, the Pro League approved the new refereeing strategic plan for professional football. A review of the
strategic plan 2019-2023 showed that refereeing has made great strides in recent years: trust in refereeing has
improved, a long-term structure for the Belgian refereeing has been introduced, referee performance has improved
over the past three seasons and this at both national and international level and the referees are trained and
educated at the highest level.
STEPHANIE FORDE
Obviously, there is still room for improvement. In the new 2023-2026
plan, the RBFA focuses on the following four pillars:
• Improving the quality of refereeing: the PRD aims for 90% correct decisi-
ons on the field (before the video assistant referee’s intervention) in the
Jupiler Pro League and the Challenger Pro League. Last season,the score
achieved in the Jupiler Pro League was 86%. The PRD emphasises the im-
portance of consistency in decision-making to referees: the same errors
must be assessed in the same way by referees during the same match.
• Improving VAR decision-making quality: the PRD aims for 90% correct de-
cisions in situations where the VAR may be called upon. Last season, the
score achieved in the Jupiler Pro League was 84%. Following VAR analysis,
the PRD wants to achieve 99% correct decisions at key moments.
• Improving communication with stakeholders: more communication bet-
ween the referees, the clubs and the Pro League about the reasons be-
hind the decisions made by referees and the VAR. The PRD uses social
media, but also interacts directly with the clubs to communicate in all
transparency and openness.
• Commitment to high-quality training and guidance of referees, with the
ambition to see referees perform at the highest level not just nationally,
but also internationally.
Part of the operation is funded by the Pro League. For example, the Pro Lea-
gue’s resources are used to pay for VAR and referee wages and fees. Match
fees for all refs were increased, while those of VAR and assistant VAR were
almost doubled. The number of semi-professional referees was also incre-
ased from twelve to sixteen. The PRD’s multi-year plan was finalised with an
agreement on the plan’s financing modalities. Shortly before New Year, the
Belgian international referees were awarded their FIFA badge for 2024. The
PRD’s proposed appointments were accepted by FIFA. The FIFA badge allows
the referees listed below to manage matches internationally in 2024.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
53
Men’s referees:
Lothar D’Hondt, Erik Lambrechts,
Jonathan Lardot, Bram Van
Driessche, Nathan Verboomen,
Jasper Vergoote, Lawrence
Visser
Men’s assistant referees:
Nico Claes, Jo De Weirdt, Romain
Devillers, Mathias Hillaert, Quen-
tin Lesceux*, Kevin Monteny, Thi-
baud Nijssen, Martijn Tiesters*,
Rien Vanyzere, Ruben Wyns
Video match Officials (VMO):
Ella De Vries, Erik Lambrechts,
Bram Van Driessche, Nathan
Verboomen, Lawrence Visser
Women’s referees:
Caroline Lanssens, Jana Van
Laere
Women’s assistant referees:
Margot Jacobs*, Mélissa Lejear,
Irmgard Van Meirvenne
Men’s futsal referees:
Yasin Alageyik, Jiri Bergs, Juan
Boelen, Stefan Vrijens
Men’s beach soccer referees:
Mehdi Sayoud, Jordy Vermeire,
Emmanuel Vocale
FIFA
INTERNATIONAL
MATCH
OFFICIALS :
FOOTBALL FIRST 02
02 FOOTBALL FIRST

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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
CLOSER TO
OUR MEMBERS
03
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CLOSER TO OUR MEMBERS 03
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
By then, 2,500 fans had already purcha-
sed a season ticket, giving them a seat
at the four home matches in the EURO
2024 qualifying matches.
To support the Red Devils in their EURO 2024 qualifying tour-
nament, the RBFA developed a new fan campaign under the
motto – and soon also the hashtag: #WirSchaffenDas.
To support the Red Devils in their EURO 2024 qualifying tour-
nament, the RBFA developed a new fan campaign under the
motto – and soon also the hashtag: #WirSchaffenDas.
A nod to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s famous
statement about handling the flow of refugees in her coun-
try. But above all an expression of confidence in conclu-
ding a successful qualifying campaign. Believing in our own
strength and bringing supporters and players closer to-
gether than ever, such was the starting point. The fans’ trust
and support has certainly been rewarded.
We launched unique promotional actions to that effect. For
example, supporters were once again invited to training ses-
sions. And at the players’ request, ‘fan conferences’ were
organised for the first time, during which supporters, not the
press, were able to ask their idols some questions. But it
didn’t stop there, every match was used to maximise the in-
teraction between fans and players.
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CLOSER
TO OUR
FANS
56

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JAARVERSLAG 2022 VOETBAL VERBINDT 03
UEFA EURO 2024 GERMANY
For the home match against Austria on June 17, Do-
menico Tedesco’s home debut, the King Baudouin
Stadium was sold out.
The supporters were asked to wear red, and with
the help of 45,000 red cards, the stadium was
transformed into one huge tifo when the players
entered the field.
Four days later, a large convoy of buses travelled from
Eupen to the RheinEnergie Stadium in Cologne to cheer
our Red Devils to victory against Germany.
In this case too, the fans’ excitement was palpable. No
fewer than 21 supporters’ buses carrying 650 members
of the 1895 fan club formed a black-yellow-red cara-
van heading east. Along the way, a car park was con-
verted into a fan village, with food, drinks and a DJ to
get everyone in the right mood.
In addition, another 800 fans made their own way to
Cologne.
During the first match – away in Sweden on March
24 – a large tifo with 24,000 names of supporters
was rolled out
This allowed the fans who were not physically pre-
sent in the stadium to be there nonetheless. In the
competition to win an exclusive photo shoot with
the Devils, the number of entries exceeded all ex-
pectations. After a small dip, the hype around the
Red Devils clearly got a new lease of life.
Meanwhile, 800 members of 1895 had already
purchased a ticket for the match in Stockholm.
03 CLOSER TO OUR MEMBERS ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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The #WirShaffenDas
campaign was
in full swing.
In the match against Estonia, a number of fans
had the opportunity to sing the Belgian nati-
onal anthem in the three national languages
together with the prestigious Fine Fleur choir.
A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The candidates had to submit an audition video
in the hope of being selected.
03 CLOSER TO OUR MEMBERS ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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Earlier that week, 200 members of 1895, the
official fan club, attended a training session. A
few days later, another 200 Red Insiders had the
opportunity to discover the Proximus Basecamp
and ask questions to two Devils during the first
‘Fan Conference’.
A message on your favourite Red Devil’s bath towel:
with this action the fans supported their players in
the away match against Azerbaijan. 12,356 messa-
ges were sent and the 24 winners received the bath
towel at home after the match. The campaign was
halfway through.
Between these two matches against Azerbaijan
and Estonia, the first 1895 X Red Devils quiz was
organised in Tubize. Red Devil duos were each
supplemented by a member of the 1895 fan club.
Dodi Lukebakio, Charles De Ketelaere and their
smart teammate won the quiz.
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JAARVERSLAG 2022 VOETBAL VERBINDT 03
During the home match against Azerbaijan,
children took over the King Baudouin Stadium.
By submitting a drawing, they were in with a
chance to win one of the 1,000 duo tickets in the
kids’ stands and visit the ING kids village. There
the children also had a chance to be selected to
walk onto the field with the Red Devils as an ING
player escort, or to be one of the 22 ball boys
or girls during the match. With 4,500 drawings
submitted, the contest was an unprecedented
success. The drawings were hung in the players’
tunnel and later handed over to the players.
Behind the scenes, we also worked hard on a docu-
series, called ‘Believe’, in collaboration with Jupiler.
Each episode tells the story of a player and a fan. A
series with the passion for football as the common
thread. A gem.
Especially with the added incentive of count-
less membership benefits: priority and discount
when purchasing tickets for home matches,
exclusivity when purchasing tickets for Red De-
vils away matches, the chance to attend a Red
Devils open training session, exclusive rights to
buy tickets to EURO and World Cup games, the
chance to ask questions during a fan conferen-
ce and a 15% discount on purchases in our on-
line shop
The #WirSchaffenDas
campaign has proven
to be a great success,
as the 1895 fan base
continues to grow.
The away match in Austria on October 13 in Vienna
was dedicated to our former colleague Erik Rey-
naerts, who died during the 2016 European Cham-
pionship at the age of 50. Erik Reynaerts was the
driving force behind the 1895 fan club, and managed
to get 2,000 Belgian fans to Vienna in 2011. As a tri-
bute, the RBFA wanted to do even better, and this
figure was achieved.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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Commercial revenue is essential for the RBFA. Thanks to our
partners, we can not only allow the biggest football stars
to excel but also let more than 560,000 players enjoy their
sport.
In 2022, we reached agreements with several partners to
extend existing contracts from 2023: ING, Côte d’Or, Jupiler,
PwC, Lotto, and Coca-Cola.
The Red Flames and the Red Devils can count on the support
of ING at least until after the 2028 European Championship.
Since 2010, ING has been the exclusive apparel sponsor of
the national teams, and for many years, they have provided
Kids Escorts, Ball Kids, and mascot Red at home games of
the Red Devils and Red Flames. Additionally, ING is a partner
of the Wunderbar campaign, which started in 2023 to sup-
port the Devils at the European Championship and will be
fully rolled out in 2024.
The contract extension with Coca-Cola is also for six years.
In the renewed partnership, Powerade will take over the role
of Aquarius in Belgium, giving a significant boost to Powera-
de’s brand awareness.
The RBFA thanks all its partners for their trust and support.
66
new contracts
take effect
COMMERCIAL
PARTNERSHIPS

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24.526
NATIONAL
FOOTBALL TRANSFERS
1.755 CLUBS
3.800
INTERNATIONAL
FOOTBALL TRANSFERS
863 CLUBS
3.300
INCOMING
500
OUTGOING
Q3
TRANSFER
WINDOW
Since September 30, it is possible to contact the help-
desk during the weekend, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
This helps us serve our members and clubs better.
The helpdesk is managed by CallExcel, a customer service expert.
They are used to answering questions from various stakeholders and
are well trained to be customer-oriented in the way they handle calls.
In collaboration with CallExcel, we built a knowledge base from which
they can draw to help our clubs and our members. All agents received
extensive training. Weekly coordination meetings are held to evaluate
the weekend and make any necessary improvements.
The 22 calls handled the very first weekend are proof that there was
a real need for this service at club level.
From September 30 until the end of the year, more than 600 calls were
handled. These are encouraging early figures.
HELPDESK
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023
GOOD
SERVICES

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JAARVERSLAG 2023
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RBFA
KNOWLEDGE
CENTRE
The RBFA Knowledge Centre is fully committed to innovation
in all possible areas. Its aim is to expand all knowledge in
and about Belgian football through scientific and academic
research and educational activities.
The highlight of the past year was undoubtedly the Football
Marketing Forum, featuring renowned speakers from home
and abroad: Peter Moore (United Kingdom), Lieven Scheire
(Belgium), Jan Ove Nystuen (Norway) and Gianluca Santaniel-
lo (Italy).
In 2023, too, the Knowledge Centre assisted several stu-
dents with their thesis. Such as business engineer stu-
dent Benjamin Vermaut, who wrote a thesis on the creation
of a machine model that is able to predict the line-up of a
football team for certain matches based on the individual
characteristics of each player. The results of the study show
that the model created can predict with 80% accuracy which
players will be selected for the upcoming matches, even be-
fore the season starts.
Also in collaboration with the RBFA Knowledge Centre, an
international team of researchers examined the impact of
diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) on social media fan en-
gagement. The study was part of a research project funded
by UEFA. The team came up with new ideas that can help
make strategic and operational decisions about DEI in foot-
ball associations.

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The interviews with eleven DEI professionals revealed seven key dimensions: age, gender, body and mind, sexual
orientation, race and ethnicity, class and social status, religion and cultural diversity. Dimensions that are recog-
nised in each country, but which are targeted in a particular way by each state.
An analysis of the social media posts on the official accounts of two associations showed that the presence of a
DEI dimension has a significant effect on social media engagement. Posts with at least one of the DEI dimensions
are more appreciated although they receive fewer responses.
The research team was extremely pleased with the collaboration. It gained access to real yet fully anonymised
data from a global organisation and was able to work on a project with a major impact for the football ecosystem
and for our society as a whole.
.

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“Who should kick the penalties where?”
is the title of a thesis by Davide Bochicchio, former goalkeeper
for S.S Lazio and Sporting Charleroi, among others, and a student
at the Louvain School of Management (LSM) in 2023. For his the-
sis, he applied quantitative analyses to behavioural biases in pe-
nalty shootouts. In his research, Bochicchio analysed more than
405 penalty shootouts from major international matches since
the 1970-71 season, the year when they penalty shootouts were
introduced. There were 225 victories for the starting team, a
small yet significant difference compared to the following team.
A quarter of the winners are determined after the fourth kick, and
half after the fifth. Bochicchio also found that fewer than one in
six shots are aimed at the centre of the goal even though 97% of
goalkeepers choose a side. Consequently, the conversion rate is
highest on shots at the centre of the goal.
Finally, Wout Hardy won the Pierre Wildiers Award for the best
thesis by a student at the Faculty of Business and Economics of
the University of Antwerp for his thesis written in collaboration
with the RBFA Knowledge Centre. He wrote about women’s parti-
cipation in football with a focus on the various factors that can
have an impact on this participation and how big that impact is.
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CLOSER TO OUR MEMBERS 03

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JAARVERSLAG 2021
JAARVERSLAG 2021
BECAUSE WE CARE
04
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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Come Together – the action plan of the RBFA,
Voetbal Vlaanderen, ACFF and the Pro League
against discrimination – celebrated its two-year
anniversary in 2023, and once again presented a
number of valuable initiatives.
It started the year strongly, with a powerful cam-
paign video that left no one unmoved. The video
shows that discrimination leaves indelible marks.
It features an 11-year-old boy with the word “Ma-
kak” (macaque monkey) tattooed on his face, an
insult shouted at him while playing football.
During the month of March, no fewer than 745
clubs showed their support for #ComeTogether by
wearing the Come Together shirts and sharing the
campaign images. The campaign was also echoed
during half-time of the Jupiler Pro League mat-
ches on the Eleven channel. In addition, training
sessions were organised by inclusion coaches in
various ACFF and VV clubs, as well as online.
New campaign
in 2023
04 BECAUSE WE CARE ANNUAL REPORT 2023
78
COME
TOGETHER

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FIGURES
COME
TOGETHER
These are the figures from the Come Together reporting point
for 2023:
609
REPORTS
477
VV
109
ACFF
22
PL
1
FA
> 700
ATTENDEES
48
WORKSHOPS
81

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The highlight of the past FSR year was undoubtedly the presentation
of the very first Come Together Awards, which honour clubs that take
exceptional initiatives to promote inclusion within football and fight
against discrimination and racism
.
Professional club winner KAA Gent not only fights inequality itself, but
also guides club managers, volunteers and trainers in other Ghent
teams. In addition, the KAA Gent Foundation has also developed bys-
tander training during which supporters and volunteers are taught
how to actively intervene when they are confronted with discrimina-
tion or racism.
Amateur club Lyra-Lierse launched various projects, such as a Youni-
ted Team with which it aims to bring together and empower vulnera-
ble young people through football, and summer camps for vulnerable
young people.
Finally, the non-profit organisation ÊKHÔ Sport also won a ‘supportive
organisation’ award because it organises football training for deaf
and hearing-impaired children during after-school care
02 VOETBAL OP TOPNIVEAUAR JAARVERSLAG 2022
Come Together
Awards
ANNUAL REPORT 2023 BECAUSE WE CARE 04
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04 BECAUSE WE CARE
84
The Red Devils
& Red Flames
also closely
involved
The composition of the jury proves that the Red
Devils and the Red Flames are also closely invol-
ved in this Come Together initiative. In addition to
Anouk Bonte and Gregory Franck of the RBFA Diver-
sity Board, the jury consisted of Justine Vanhaever-
maet, Amadou Onana and former Red Devil and jury
chairman Mbo Mpenza.
The Come Together action plan also ensured that
inclusivity became a priority at RWDM Girls. And in
May, several RBFA colleagues took part in the Bel-
gian Pride in Brussels to make a strong statement
for inclusion and acceptance of every individual
regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or
background.

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The Belgian Red Courts
encourage
the community
New achievements
In 2023, no fewer than five new Belgian Red Courts were opened in Genk, Waregem, Vilvoorde, Halle and Lokeren,
bringing the total to eight by the end of 2023. In addition, the Red Courts in Bilzen and Peer were also built. The
last two will be officially opened in 2024, just like the new one in Westerlo.
The Belgian Red Courts programme is an RBFA initiative which involved converting old football pitches in various
neighbourhoods across the country into modern mini football temples. Numerous activities to promote social
cohesion are organised on these brand-new courts – in collaboration with local authorities and organisations..
RED
COURTS

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88
220
ATTENDEES
9
ACTIVITIES
120
PARTICIPANTS PER TOURNAMENT
HALLE
89
WAREGEM
VILVOORDE
GENK LOKEREN
5 new Red Courts
in Genk, Halle,
Lokeren,Vilvoorde
& Waregem!

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'How to become a Court Legend'
The RBFA also developed – together with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel – the ‘How to become a Court
Legend’ programme under the Belgian Red Courts project. This programme will be delivered by our
Coaches to young people from the area of
each Red Court. Through football they will learn important
skills that will empower them in their professional and personal lives. The skills covered include pro-
blem solving, self-confidence, critical thinking and communication.
At the beginning of 2023, the RBFA was therefore looking for two coaches per Red Court. Together with
a city employee – the Red Court Coordinator – they work on a voluntary basis to create a real football
atmosphere on our Red Courts. The activities are very diverse and aimed at general personal develop-
ment as well as the technical skills of young and old.
In April 2023, all Red Courts Coordinators and Coaches were invited to the Proximus Basecamp to be
trained by experts, focusing on both the sporting and social aspects. The training put a lot of emp-
hasis on the added value that sport has to offer to the community. The themes discussed included
combating discrimination, creating a safe environment, good communication and gender equality.
91

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Because we care
In addition to Come Together and the Red Courts pro-
ject, the ‘Because we care’ platform is another key
component of our FSR strategy.
International actions
When Turkey and Syria were hit by devastating earth-
quakes in February, leaving thousands dead and
homeless, the RBFA decided to transfer a donation of
25,000 euros to UEFA towards a joint disaster fund by
UEFA member associations: the UEFA Disaster Relief
Fund.
Because we care conference – Human
rights
In the spring, people were also looking forward to the
first ‘Because we care’ (BWC) conference on March 15
at the RBFA headquarters. With human rights as the
conference theme.
VV, ACFF and the RBFA joined forces to invite various
speakers from the political world, representatives of
clubs and researchers and specialists from various
fields. The conference – attended by 150 people – was
introduced by Pierre Kompany, who called for sancti-
ons and legal measures against any form of racism.
Faris Haroun, professional player at Antwerp FC,
facilitated a discussion in which victims of sexi-
sm, homophobia and racism had their say.
Tine Vertommen, researcher and expert in the
field of child protection, used scientific research
to illustrate the urgency and our role as adults.
Transgressive behaviour is indeed a problem in
our sports clubs.
Martin Fortez, lawyer at UNIA’s protection depart-
ment, made everyone aware at their own level of
how we should respond to online hate messages
as victims, citizens or as administrators/mode-
rators. One of the most common mistakes when
it comes to online hate speech is responding to
it, as this often gives perpetrators the attention
they seek.
Benjamin Renauld, player with Royal Europa
Kraainem FC, explained the actions the club is
taking to integrate more than 300 players of 42
(!) different nationalities into the club’s daily ac-
tivities. Since 2015, the municipality of Kraainem
has welcomed more than 4,000 refugees. Royal
Europa Kraainem FC is happy to be able to help
with integration through football and allow its
players to live together in a community.
Pascale Van Damme, then an independent direc-
tor at the RBFA, concluded the evening with an
inspiring closing statement.
BECAUSE
WE
CARE

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Because We Care conference - Environmental Sustainability
The Second Because We Care conference – on December 14 – focused on environmental sustainability, and how
football can reduce its impact on the environment.
Climate events and problems such as flooding, extreme heat and air pollution can be very challenging for football.
But on the other hand, the football industry itself has a negative impact on the environment through building in-
frastructure, energy consumption and extensive travel.
15 speakers explained and discussed what football can do in terms of waste management, sustainability strategy
and raising awareness. In other words, they explained how football can harness its popularity to address environ-
mental issues and the steps it can take.
By organising this BWC conference, the RBFA aims to bring the Belgian football ecosystem together to work on a
common agenda and create effective synergies, by translating its ambition into concrete and joint actions.
04 BECAUSE WE CARE ANNUAL REPORT 2023 BECAUSE WE CARE 04

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GOVERNANCE
Good Governance has been embedded in the RBFA’s DNA and
operations ever since the major reforms of 2019.
However, we went through some dark times in the spring of
2023 with the departure of both the CEO and the first inde-
pendent President. This meant that the RBFA had to be hum-
ble and tighten both internal and external controls.
Thanks to renewed trust within the Board of Directors and
between the Board of Directors and management under the
leadership of President Pascale Van Damme, and interim CEO
Manu Leroy, the RBFA came out of this crisis of confidence
rapidly and revitalised.
With the recent appointment of Piet Vandendriessche as
CEO, the RBFA can start 2024 positively.
A tough start
in 2023
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‘Super League’ case
The broader football ecosystem was also eagerly awaiting
the judgement of the European Court of Justice in Luxem-
bourg on various sports cases, especially the UEFA Super
League case.
Making sure we always uphold the right principles is crucial
if we want to keep pursuing our main goal: organising and
promoting football!
The utmost importance that everything is done
properly.
We ensure that our daily activities in the workplace are in
line with our Code of Ethics and the processes arising from it.
To this end, procedures were established for managing con-
flicts of interest, reporting secondary jobs, and dealing with
gifts, and an anti-money laundering policy was also drawn
up.
In 2023, reporting processes were digitalised further, leading
to an increase in gift reporting (53%) and faster identification
of potential conflicts of interest.
Also within the RBFA
RBFA employee awareness of our ethical & compliance prin-
ciples has therefore increased, as was also evident from the
Compliance Risk Assessment exercise, which enables us
to fulfil the obligations of the FIFA Code of Ethics and the
Bidding Agreement between the RBFA, KNVB and DFB on the
one hand, and FIFA on the other, for the 2027 Women’s World
Cup joint candidacy under the supervision of an external Bid
Ethics & Compliance Officer
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04 BECAUSE WE CARE ANNUAL REPORT 2023

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JAARVERSLAG 2021
JAARVERSLAG 2021
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
NEW
GOALS
05
101

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What does 2024
hold?
We have four major sporting ambitions for 2024:
A good performance by the Red Devils at the European Cham-
pionships in Germany, the qualification of the Red Flames for
next year’s European Championships in Switzerland, genera-
te more income that we can then invest in Belgian football,
and take our refereeing to a higher level.
05 NEW GOALS NEW GOALS 05
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INVESTING IN WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Despite missing out on co-hosting the 2027 Women’s Wor-
ld Cup together with Germany and the Netherlands, we will
not give up and will continue to invest in women’s football.
It goes without saying that the Red Flames, after being eli-
minated from the 2023 World Cup, should not fail to qualify
for EURO 2025. If the Flames do not qualify directly in a group
with world champion Spain, Denmark and Czechia, there is
still the safety net of the play-offs.

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106 107
REFEREEING
Without referees, there is no football. Therefore, the impor-
tance of quality refereeing and VAR cannot be emphasized
enough.
Under the leadership of refereeing director Peter Willems,
we will continue to work diligently in 2024 to further raise
the level of refereeing and ensure that our referees perform
well internationally. Innovations during the playoffs – such
as fixed teams of referees and VAR, the use of VAR in the 1B
playoffs, and tactical briefings for referees on team playing
styles – should yield short-term results. A widely supported
approach focusing on individual coaching of match officials
and the appointment of a new technical director should
also elevate refereeing to a higher level in the long term.
The RBFA relies on the support and calm of all partners –
players, coaches, board members, journalists, commen-
tators, supporters, and everyone who cares about Belgian
football – to treat each other with even more respect in
2024. Because that is what referees deserve.
05 NEW GOALS

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FENIX
The football world is constantly evolving, so the RBFA –
with the support of Voetbal Vlaanderen, ACFF, and the Pro
League – cannot lag behind. Our ambition is to facilitate
and optimize the administrative tasks of our members so
that they can organize football in the most efficient way
possible.
With the Fenix project, we are modernizing the existing
football management platforms Kickoff and E-Kickoff. All
administrative tasks will be centralized in a new digital
platform. This platform must meet the needs of the entire
football ecosystem – players, parents, coaches, referees,
volunteers, fans, ... – and will therefore consist of four ma-
jor functionalities: member management, club management,
competition management, and disciplinary management.
Key words are flexibility, autonomy, and future-proof.
The new platform must become the beating heart of Belgian
football from the start of the 2026-2027 season: an attrac-
tive tool with logical work processes that is accessible on
any device and evolves with the needs of the members.
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FINANCIAL
The RBFA had a difficult year financially in 2023, but thanks
to solid equity, the financial situation remains healthy.
However, the future challenges are significant, and it is
therefore necessary to work on measures aimed at struc-
turally improving future revenues and rationalizing costs.
The RBFA, Voetbal Vlaanderen, and ACFF must maintain
long-term measures to ensure financial health. Throughout
this process, respect for our employees and our sporting
ambitions remains central.
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UEFA / FIFA
The RBFA also aims to further grow the federa-
tion internationally, and the elected president
plays a crucial role in this. The president esta-
blishes and maintains international contacts
and represents the organization at important
international events and conferences.
By working closely with football organizati-
ons worldwide and the international football
federations UEFA and FIFA, we not only further
develop Belgian football but also contribute
to the growth of football at the European and
global levels. Together with our international
partners, we want to make our sport even more
successful than it already is. We look forward
to the developments in global football, the
growth of football at various levels, and the
continued cooperation with UEFA and FIFA.
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JAARVERSLAG 2023
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ANNUAL REPORT RBFA 2023
EDITED BY
Royal Belgian Football Association
EDITORS
Manu Leroy
Hedeli Sassi
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Wendy Reusen
TEKST
Stefan Van Loock
Marie Verbeke
TRANSLATION
Virginie Ducarmon
www.rbfa.be
COLOFON
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Discover the RBFA's annual report for 2023