Country Maldives Founded 22 December 2014 Level on pyramid 1 | Confederation AFC Number of teams 8 Relegation to Second Division | |
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President yameen officially launches ooredoo dhivehi premier league 2015
Dhivehi Premier League is a Maldivian league for men's association football clubs. At the top of the Maldives football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 8 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Second Division Football Tournament.
Contents
- President yameen officially launches ooredoo dhivehi premier league 2015
- Competition
- Qualification for Asian competitions
- Sponsorship
- Finances
- Clubs
- Stadiums
- Foreign players
- References
Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 14 matches each (playing each team in the league twice) totalling 56 matches in the season. It is currently sponsored by Ooredoo Maldives and thus officially known as the Ooredoo Dhivehi Premier League.
The competition formed as the Dhivehi Premier League on 22 December 2014 following the decision of The FAM normalisation committee formed by FIFA. It succeeds the Dhivehi League.
Competition
There are 8 clubs in the Premier League. During the course of a season each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), for a total of 14 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match decides rank.
Qualification for Asian competitions
The top two teams in the Dhivehi Premier League qualify for the AFC Cup, with the champion directly entering the group stage. The second-placed team enters the AFC Cup at the play-off round for East Asia Zone and must win the match in order to enter the group stage.
Sponsorship
The Dhivehi Premier League has been sponsored since its inaugural season 2015. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name.
Finances
The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) decided to give the responsibility of selling match tickets to stadium, for the clubs and the ticket income will be a profit for the club's finances. Each team in the Premier League, will receive an amount of MVR 1.6 million from the FAM before the season starts. The Champion team also receives a MVR 1 million cash prize.
On 18 April 2015, FAM introduces season tickets, so the clubs can increase their wage by each season.
Clubs
The following 8 clubs will compete in the Dhivehi Premier League during the 2016 season.
a: Founding member of the Dhivehi Premier League
b: Never been relegated from Dhivehi Premier League
Stadiums
Dhivehi Premier League football is played in 1 stadium; National Football Stadium with a capacity of 11,850 spectators.
Foreign players
Until 2014 season, all Maldivian clubs can have maximum of three foreign players each. But the FAM normalisation committee formed by FIFA decided that each team can have four foreign players including one Asian player.