Relegation in domestic football remains a pivotal part of the sport, even as the exact path to drop down the pyramid shifts over time. Teams that fall from the top tier continue to be found at the bottom of the standings, and their fate is tied to a blend of season-long performance and cumulative results from multiple competitions.
The prior campaign went down in history for a specific reason: two clubs moved from the First Division to the First National after spending three seasons at the top. That notable shift echoed a broader pattern where the rules of relegation can change, reshaping the risk landscape for teams across the league. This time, the governance of the Professional League revised the framework once more, altering how many clubs exit every season and how their descent is calculated.
Previously, the plan was to send four teams down; that figure was adjusted at the moment, and then another modification occurred during the Binance Tournament, limiting the number of relegated clubs to two. The current modality keeps a two-team relegation cap, but it specifies the precise conditions that determine who leaves the league. At the close of the season, the club positioned last on the Average Table is relegated, along with the club occupying the last spot in the general classification. These determinations are based on the combined points earned across both the LPF competition and the League Cup’s regular phase, ensuring that performances in different formats contribute to the final outcome.
In cases where the same club ranks last in the annual competition and also sits in the relegation zone on the Average Table, the second slot for relegation would go to the second-to-last team overall. This rule protects the integrity of both the year-long performance and the strategic consistency required to remain in the top flight, while also maintaining a predictable, two-team relegation framework for planning and competitiveness.
THIS IS THE LOWER OF THE AVERAGE TABLE
THIS IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE ANNUAL TABLE
For supporters and teams alike, the system blends ongoing season performance with longer-term indicators. The Average Table aggregates points earned across multiple phases, presenting a cumulative measure that complements the annual standings. Meanwhile, the Annual Table reflects the year’s results in a straightforward tally, highlighting consistency, improvements, or declines over the season. Together, they form a dual lens through which relegation risk is assessed, ensuring that clubs cannot rely solely on a single competition to secure their place in the elite division. The pairing of these two calculations emphasizes sustained effort, robust depth in squad rotation, and tactical adjustments that respond to the challenges of a full baking of competitive fixtures.
Clubs facing the end-of-season reckoning must monitor both the steady accrual of points and the fluctuations that can arise from cup runs, league form, and head-to-head results. This layered approach to relegation ensures that the most resilient organizations, capable of balancing multiple competitions and maintaining performance across the calendar, have a fair chance to stay among the nation’s top clubs. It also heightens the drama for fans, who witness the season’s final rounds with a heightened sense of consequence and anticipation. The overall effect is a dynamic, transparent process designed to preserve competitiveness while rewarding consistency over time.
Note: this overview reflects the current framework as reported by Goal, and it may be adjusted by the league authorities as formats evolve over future seasons.