Sri Lanka Super League (Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා ප්රිමියර් ලීග්; Tamil: இலங்கை சூப்பர் லீக்) is the men's professional top tier football league in Sri Lankan football league system, It is organised by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.[1]
 | |
| Founded | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Sri Lanka Champions League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Sri Lanka FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Challenge League |
| Current champions | Blue Star (1st title) |
| Most championships | Blue Star (1 title) |
The league comprises 10 clubs. Each season of the tournament generally runs from April to September. Each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), for a total of 90 games.
The competition formed as the Sri Lanka Super League in 2018 by the General Secretary of Football Federation of Sri Lanka Jaswar Umar Lebbe with the assistance and guidance of FIFA. It succeeds the Sri Lanka Champions League as the country's top tier football competition.
History
editProfessionalism in Sri Lanka did not exist until the General Secretary of Football Federation of Sri Lanka Jaswar Umar Lebbe initiated and designed this competition with the assistance and guidance of FIFA in 2018. Club selection process was through a “Club Licensing Criteria” in association with the Asian Football Confederation.[2][3]
Since most of the clubs in this league haven't any FIFA Standard Stadiums, Sugathadasa Stadium was chosen as the venue to stage the tournament since the beginning.[4]
Competition format
editThere are 10 clubs in the Super League. During the course of a season each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), for a total of 90 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. The competition will operate without promotion and relegation for the first two seasons.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, inaugural season of the Super League was forced to limit to a single round-robin system.[5]
Qualification for Asian competitions
editThe winner of the Super League enters the AFC Cup at the qualifying play-offs preliminary round 1 for the South Asia Zone.[6]
Clubs
editThe following 10 clubs compete in the Sri Lanka Super League during the 2021 season.[1]
| Club | Position in 2018–19 |
First season in Super League |
Seasons in Super League |
First season of current spell in Super League\ |
Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defenders Football Cluba, b | 1st | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | Homagama Ground | 5,000 |
| Navy Sea Hawks FCa, b | 4th | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | Navy Ground | 1,000 |
| Blue Eaglesa, b | 10th | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | Kelaniya Football Complex | 3,000 |
| Colombo Football Cluba, b | 2nd | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | Sugathadasa Stadium | 25,000 |
| Renown Sports Cluba, b | 5th | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | Sugathadasa Stadium | 25,000 |
| Ratnam Sports Cluba, b | 6th | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | Sugathadasa Stadium | 25,000 |
| Red Star Sports Cluba, b | 8th | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | - | - |
| Blue Star Sports Cluba, b | 3rd | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | Kalutara Stadium | 15,000 |
| Up Country Lions Sports Cluba, b | 7th | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | Jayathilake Stadium | 5,000 |
| New Young's Sports Cluba, b | 12th | 2021 | 1 | 2021 | Sri Albert F. Peiries Stadium | 5,000 |
a: Founding member of Sri Lanka Super League
b: Never been relegated from Sri Lanka Super League
Sponsorship
edit- Nivia Sports (Official match ball)
Finance
editThe Football Federation of Sri Lanka guaranteed financial support to all the teams in the Super League according to their league positions.
As of 2021, the fixed amount of prize money paid to the clubs are as follows:[5][4]
- Champions: LKR 5,000,000
- 2nd: LKR 3,500,000
- 3rd: LKR 2,750,000
- 4th: LKR 2,500,000
- 5th: LKR 2,250,000
- 6th: LKR 2,000,000
- 7th: LKR 1,750,000
- 8th: LKR 1,500,000
- 9th: LKR 1,250,000
- 10th: LKR 1,000,000
Media coverage
editThe Football Federation of Sri Lanka announced that TV 1 as the official media partner to broadcast all live matches across Sri Lanka. The football association's own YouTube channel Football Srilanka TV will allow fans abroad to watch the Super League live.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b Sri Lanka Super League set for November lift off. AFC. 2 July 2020.
- ^ 'Super League' – Sri Lanka's first Professional Football League to begin in November at Daily News Lanka. date: 2 July 2020.
- ^ New Football culture will begin with ‘Super League’ - SLF Secretary at Daily News Lanka. date:26 December 2020
- ^ a b c The Highly Anticipated Super League Kicks Off On April 19 at Football Federation of Sri Lanka. date:17 April 2021
- ^ a b Football Super League kicks off tomorrow at Sunday Observer Lanka. date:18 April 2021
- ^ Super League at Football Federation of Sri Lanka. access date:30 June 2021