Voetbal Vlaanderen aims to double the number of supporters in youth and amateur football in Flanders by 2028, while also increasing the number of certified trainers and promoting sportsmanship and respect.
These objectives are part of Voetbal Vlaanderen’s 2025-2028 policy plan, which was developed based on feedback from nearly 4,000 clubs, trainers, parents, referees, and players.
Currently, almost 357,000 footballers are registered with clubs in Flanders, a 28% increase compared to ten years ago. Voetbal Vlaanderen plans to continue this growth by providing stronger support to the football community.
“Our ambitions are vast: more boys and girls playing football, enhanced fan experiences, greater fair play, and reduced racism. We know this must be achieved by our 2,900 clubs and referee corps, but they will not be alone,” said Philippe Rosier, General Director of Voetbal Vlaanderen. “We will intensify our guidance and administrative support for them in the coming years.”
Related News
- Fireworks injure football players in Essen
- Red Flames drop to 20th place in new FIFA rankings
- Belgian football kicks off its annual fight against racism, discrimination, exclusion
Today, seven in ten clubs receive fewer than 100 spectators per match. Voetbal Vlaanderen plans to increase this by 50 percent by 2028 through enhanced fan experiences.
Another priority is raising the standard of trainers by increasing the number of certified coaches. By 2028, half of the more than 19,000 trainers should hold one or more diplomas.
Voetbal Vlaanderen is also committed to promoting respect on and off the field, focusing specifically on fair play, discrimination, and racism. Raising awareness of club integrity officers (APIs) will be a key area of work.
