Country Japan Number of teams 16 | Confederation AFC (Asia) | |
Founded 1999; 18 years ago (1999) Level on pyramid 3 (1999–2013)4 (since 2014) | ||
The Japan Football League, (日本フットボールリーグ, Nihon Futtobōru Rīgu) also known as simply the JFL is the 4th tier of the Japanese association football league system, positioned beneath three divisions of the J.League, and the top tier of amateur football in the country. Despite its officially amateur status the league features fully professional teams that hold J.League associate membership among its ranks.
Contents
History
The Japan Football League started from the 1999 season when the second division of J.League (J2) was also born. Until then, J.League consisted of only one division and the former JFL was the second highest division. Out of 16 teams who played the last season of the former JFL, 9 decided and were accepted to play in J2 and the other 7 teams as well as Yokogawa Electric !Yokogawa Electric, the winners of the Regional League Promotion Series, formed the new Japan Football League. These 8 teams together with Yokohama FC !Yokohama FC that was allowed to participate as a special case after the merger of Yokohama Flügels !Yokohama Flügels and Yokohama F. Marinos !Yokohama F. Marinos competed in the inaugural 1999 season.
The 9 teams that competed in the first season were as follows: Denso SC !Denso SC, Honda Motors !Honda Motors, Jatco SC !Jatco SC, Kokushikan University F.C., Mito HollyHock !Mito HollyHock, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals !Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Sony Sendai !Sony Sendai, Yokohama FC !Yokohama FC and Yokogawa Electric !Yokogawa Electric.
In the second season the number of clubs was increased from 9 to 12, reaching 16 in 2001. In 2002 it was briefly 18 clubs before going back to 16 the next season and settling for good at 18 in 2006. For the 2012 season it had 17 clubs due to the late withdrawal of Arte Takasaki !Arte Takasaki.
The league suffered another contraction after 2013 season, as 10 of its 18 teams joined the newly created J3 League. It also moved a tier down the pyramid, making it fourth-tier league since 2014.
Three former JFL clubs have competed in the top flight: Yokohama FC !Yokohama FC (2007), Otsuka Pharmaceuticals !Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (2014, as Tokushima Vortis), and Matsumoto Yamaga !Matsumoto Yamaga (2015).
Overview
JFL clubs may be affiliated to companies, or be entirely autonomous clubs or reserve teams of these. Until 2010, university clubs (which as a rule do not play in the Japanese football league system) were recommended by the Japan University Football Association and played off against bottom JFL teams for entrance. B-teams are allowed to participate but only A-squads of truly autonomous clubs are eligible for J.League Associate Membership, and with it, promotion to J.League.
Promotion from JFL
A club that satisfies the following criteria will be promoted to J.League Div. 2 (for the 2012 and 2013 seasons):
With the establishment of the J3 League in the 2014 season, the top 2 requirements are no longer necessary should a team that is approved by J.League Committee and is a J.League Associate Member. However, they'll start in the J3 instead. The JFL will be the highest tier of amateur level football in Japan again, but they still serve the purpose of helping potential J.League clubs to participate in the J3.
Relegation from JFL
Up to two teams at the bottom of the league may face a direct relegation or relegation/promotion play-off against the teams finishing at the top of the Regional League promotion competition. The number of the teams who need to compete in the play-off varies depending on the number of the teams that are promoted to J3 or withdrawn from the JFL.
Emperor's Cup eligibility
Until 2008, only the club at the top of the standings at half-season (17 matches completed) was qualified for the Emperor's Cup, entering it at the third round along with the clubs in J2, but the allotment was widened to the top three clubs in 2010 due to the expansion of J2. Every other club must qualify through a qualifying cup in their own prefecture and then must enter at the first round. Since 2015, the winner of the apertura (first half) qualifies again.
Competition format
The league follows the Apertura and Clausura system, with two winners of each stage contesting the championship in the playoff.
Participating clubs
Former clubs
Most successful clubs
Clubs in bold compete in JFL as of 2015 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.
Fourth-tier League: 2014–
Beginning in 2014 the Japan Football League switched to the Apertura and Clausura format to determine the champions.