My club deregistered me (desaffectatie): what now?

What is a desaffectatie?

A desaffectatie is a club's decision to end an amateur player's membership. The club reports it to the RBFA. As soon as the federation registers it, your membership of the RBFA and of Voetbal Vlaanderen or the ACFF ends.

If you are on loan at another club at the time, the deregistration only takes effect when your loan ends.

When can you play for your new club?

• Deregistered before 1 July: you can play for your new club's first team from the new season, provided your registration is recorded by 31 August.
• Deregistered after 1 July: you cannot play for your new club's first team that season. You can play for the reserves, youth teams and veterans.
• Exception: if you were deregistered because your old club's highest-ranked first team is inactive, has withdrawn from the league, is suspended or has to play in a reserve league, the restriction does not apply.
• Deregistered women players may play for a first team in the provincial divisions from 7 January.
• In recreational football and minifootball the restriction does not apply.

Deregistered by mistake?

If your club deregistered you by mistake, it has you sign a new registration form. After the regulatory waiting period you can play for your club again without restrictions.

What if your club folds?

If your club resigns from the federation or is struck off, you can join another club from the moment the RBFA publishes it in its official bulletin. If your club is still finishing the current league season, that is possible from 15 June at the earliest. In that case there are no restrictions: you can play for the first team straight away.

Deregistration or resignation?

With a deregistration the club takes the initiative. With a resignation you take the initiative, and only between 1 and 30 April. For your eligibility that makes a big difference: after resigning in April you are eligible for your new club from 1 July.