Country Malta Number of teams 14 Date founded 1910 Domestic cup Maltese FA Trophy Relegation to Maltese Second Division | Level on pyramid 2 Current champion Gżira United F.C. Promotion to Maltese Premier League Levels on pyramid 2 | |
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Current champions Gzira United F.C.
(2015–16) | ||
The Maltese First Division (also known as the Bank of Valletta First Division due to sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League and above the Maltese Second Division. The league has been running for many years.
14 teams take part in the league. The top two teams are promoted to the Maltese Premier League, whilst the three lowest-finishing teams are relegated to the Maltese Second Division. The third place team plays the tenth place team in the Maltese Premier League in a play-off game for promotion. Due to the expansion of the Maltese Premier League starting from the season 2017/18, 3 teams will be promoted while the 4th placed team will face the play-off game. On the other hand, only 2 teams will get relegated to the Maltese Second Division.
On January 13, 2011, the Malta Football Association decided to expand the league to 12 teams as from season 2011–12, and has since expanded to 14 teams. The top two placed teams will get promoted to the Maltese Premier League while the 3rd best team will face the play-off. As from the 2017/18 Maltese First Division, only 2 teams will be relegated automatically, while the team finishing 12th will face a play-out against the 3rd placed team from the Second Division.