In England we’re all used to our simple league methods. A standard round robin system, where everyone plays each other home and away. Even the play-offs seem quite adventurous for us.
However, there are many different league systems adopted across the world, which are not quite so simple. Some involve hundreds of teams playing in the same level while others include complicated averages. Below are some of the most extraordinary systems adopted across the globe.
1. Serie D – Italy
Even the name of this league is confusing.
Serie D is actually the fifth tier of Italian football, after Serie A, Serie B and the Lega Pro Prima and Seconda Divisions.
The most bizarre feature of this league is the sheer number of teams who are in competition. An incredible 166 teams competed in the 2012/13 season with the teams being divided into seven divisions of 18 and two of 20. Each team plays each other home and away.
The winner of each division then enters a system of three groups of three to decide the overall winner of the division. All nine teams are promoted regardless of the winner of this tournament.
Teams finishing in places second to fifth in each division enter the promotion play-offs alongside the semi finalists, runners-up and winner of the Coppa Italia Serie D, which is a straight knockout competition involving all Serie D teams. The winner of these play-offs, after six rounds of matches, is given the last available promotion slot.
The relegation system is even more difficult to understand. Four teams from each division are relegated but 13 teams also enter the relegation play-offs against teams from the division below, with the winning team from each two legged match earning the right to play Serie D football the following season.
2. Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio
The top division in San Marino does not make life simple for its 15 semi professional teams.
The teams are split into two groups, one of eight and one of seven. Each team is randomly assigned a stadium at the start of the season as there are only six grounds available in the country.
Each team then plays each other in their group twice and plays each team in the other group once meaning teams in group A play 20 games and teams in group B play 21.
The top three in each group then go through to the most complicated play-off system ever devised to decide the winner of the competition.
There are two brackets to the play-offs, the winner’s bracket and the loser’s bracket. All six teams start off in the winner’s bracket; if you are defeated, you drop to the loser’s bracket. If you lose twice, you are eliminated. The last team standing from the loser’s bracket plays the last team standing in the winner’s bracket for the league title and also a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds.
3. Liga Postobon – . Colombian top division
Colombia use a system similar to many South American countries where the year is split into two seasons, an apertura (opening) and a clausura (closing) section.
The standard format of the system is that each team plays each other once in the apertura, with the top eight teams entering the play-offs. The process is then repeated for the clausura.
However, in Colombia they have decided to put their own twist on the matter. The top eight teams go into two groups of four. The teams then play each other twice in their group with the winner of each group playing each other in a final to decide the winner of that part of the season.
Relegation is also not a simple matter. The team with the lowest average points per game for the past three seasons are relegated, with the second lowest entering a relegation/promotion playoff against a team from the second tier.
4. Indonesia Premier Division and Indonesia Super League
Indonesia’s league system threatens their football federation’s existence as the country continues to run two divisions who both state they are the legitimate national championship of the country.
There is nothing strange about the format of the leagues, both use a standard system. The Super League includes 18 teams which play each other twice and the Premier League includes 12 teams who play each other twice. The Premier League is also the league which currently earns continental qualification, with one spot for the AFC Champions League and another for the AFC Cup.
But the real problem is that both leagues continue to run in parallel. FIFA have threatened to suspend the Football Association of Indonesia (FAI) for failing to correctly control its country’s football. The lack of authority by the FAI has led to players not being paid on time and, in an extreme case, the lack of payment has led to the passing away at the age of 32 of Paraguyan footballer Diego Mendieta who could not afford vital medical care for a treatable illnss.
5. Belgian Pro League
Perhaps one of the most exciting leagues systems around, no matter however complicated it may be, is Belgium’s top division, which gives teams something to play for right until the end of the season.
The season begins with a round robin 16 team format. After each team has played 30 matches, the league splits into three sections; the title playoff, the European play-off and the relegation play-off.
The top six teams enter the title play-off with their points from the regular season halved. Each team plays each other twice to decide the winner of the title.
The eight teams placed seventh to fourteenth, are split into two groups of four called the European play-offs. Each team plays each other twice in their group with the winner of each group going into a final. The winner of this two legged final plays the fourth place team from the title play-off in a two-legged showdown. The winner earns a place in the Europa League second qualifying round.
The bottom two teams enter the relegation play-off, where the team who finished higher in the regular season starts with a bonus three points. They play each other four times, with the team with the fewest points being relegated.
The team with the most points from the relegation play-off enters the relegation/promotion playoffs with three teams from the second division. They play each other twice, with the winner earning the right to play Belgian Pro League football the following year.
@RomseyCam
