Dhivehi Premier League

Dhivehi Premier League
Founded 22 December 2014
Country Maldives
Confederation AFC
Number of teams 10
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Second Division
Domestic cup(s) FA Cup
President's Cup
Charity Shield
POMIS Cup
International cup(s) AFC Cup&SAFF League
Current champions New Radiant
(2017)
Most championships New Radiant (2 title)
TV partners Television Maldives (live matches)
2018 Dhivehi Premier League


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.

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.

From 2018 onward 10 teams will compete in Dhivehi Premier League. Since its establishment in 2000, this is the first time 10 team participating in Dhivehi Premier League.

According to Football Association of Maldives, the top 6 teams from Male' League and top 4 teams from Minivan Championship will compete 1st Round of Dhivehi Premier League. Top 8 teams of 1st Round will compete in 2nd Round.

History

Season Champions Runners-up
2015 New Radiant TC Sports Club
2016 Maziya TC Sports Club
2017 New Radiant TC Sports Club

Competition format

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 Ooredoo Dhivehi Premier League sponsorship logo as used by media

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.

Club Position
in 2015		 First season in
Premier
League		 Seasons
in Premier
LeagueYy		 First season of
current spell in
Premier League
BG Sports Cluba, b7th201522015
Eaglesa, b3rd201522015
Maziyaa, b4th201522015
New Radianta, b1st201522015
TC Sports Cluba, b2nd201522015
United Victory1st in the Second Division201612016
Valenciaa, b6th201522015
Victorya, b5th201522015

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.

Players

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.

References

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