Latvian First League
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 |
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| Traffic 1. līga |
|---|
 1. līga 2007 |
| Founded |
| 1996 |
| Nation |
 Latvia |
| Promotion To |
| Virslīga |
| Relegation To |
| 2. līga |
| Number of Teams |
| 16 (from 18.03.08 15 teams) |
| Level on Pyramid |
| Level 2 |
| Domestic Cups |
| Latvian Cup |
| Current Champions (2007) |
| FK Vindava Ventspils |
| Website |
| Latvian Football Federation |
The Latvian First League (Latvian: 1. līga) is the second tier of football in Latvia and is organised by the Latvian Football Federation. From the 2007 season, the tournament has been known as the Traffic 1. līga, due to its sponsorship by the "Traffic auto advert" advertising company.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Format
There are 16 clubs in the First League. During the course of the season each club plays the every other club twice, once at home and once away, with a total of 30 games. At the end of the season, the highest placed club is automatically promoted to the Virslīga. The second lowest placed club in the Virslīga and the second placed club in the First League compete in a Play-off over two matches for the remaining place in the following season's Virslīga. However, for the 2008 season, the Virslīga has been expanded to 10 clubs. Therefore there was no relegation and the top two clubs in the First League, FK Vindava Ventspils (champions) and FK Blāzma Rēzekne (runners-up) were promoted to the Virslīga. The two clubs finishing at the bottom of the First League are relegated to the Second League.[2]
[edit] First League clubs (2008)
In January 2008 the Latvian Football Federation announced the 16 clubs who will compete in the 2008 First League season.[3]
- FK Abuls Smiltene
- FK Auda/Alberts Rīga
- FK Daugava Rīga
- FB Gulbene-2005
- FK Jaunība Rīga
- FK Jēkabpils
- FK Jelgava
- JFC Kauguri Jūrmala
- FK Liepājas Metalurgs-2
- FS Metta-Latvijas Universitāte Rīga
FK Multibankawithdrew on March 18, 2008- FK Spartaks Jūrmala
- Tranzīts Ventspils
- FK Tukums 2000
- FK Valmiera
- FK Zibens Zemessardze
[edit] Past First League winners
| Season | Winner | Total wins* | Remarks | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | FK Vindava Ventspils | 1 (1) | FK Blāzma Rēzekne | |
| 2006 | JFK Olimps Rīga | 1 (1) | Ditton-2 Daugavpils | |
| 2005 | Skonto-2 Rīga | 1 (1) | FK Ventspils-2 | |
| 2004 | FK Ventspils-2 | 1 (1) | Skonto-2 Riga | |
| 2003 | FK Jūrmala | 1 (1) | Multibanka Rīga | |
| 2002 | RKB-Arma Rīga | 1 (1) | Ditton Daugavpils | |
| 2001 | Auda Rīga | 1 (1) | RKB-Arma Rīga | |
| 2000 | Zibens-Zemessardze Daugavpils | 1 (1) | Skonto/Metāls Rīga |
[edit] References
- ^ "Second division Traffic League kicks-off", Latvian Football Federation, 2007-04-04. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
- ^ Sopirins, Viktors. "Latvian First League 2008 - tournament info", Latvian Football Federation, 2008-01-16. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ "16 clubs will compete in First league 2008", Latvian Football Federation, 2008-01-19. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
