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| Countries |  Israel |
|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Relegation to | Liga Leumit |
| Level on pyramid | Level 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | State Cup Toto Cup Al |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Europa League |
| Current champions | Maccabi Haifa (2008–09) |
| Most championships | Maccabi Haifa (6 titles) |
| Website | football.org.il |
 2009–10 Israeli Premier League |
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The Israeli Premier League (Hebrew: ליגת העל, Ligat HaAl, lit. Super League), currently known as Ligat Toto (Hebrew: ליגת טוטו) for sponsorship reasons, is the top division in the Israeli football league system.
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Background
The Israeli Premier League was created in 1999 to replace Liga Leumit (which became the second tier) when the Israel Football Association decided to reshuffle all the leagues in hopes of improving competition. In its first season there were 14 clubs; the top thirteen clubs from the 1998–99 season and the top place club from the Liga Artzit (then the second division). That season three clubs were relegated and one from Liga Leumit was promoted. Over the years the league has changed names though the new names were simply commercial rebranding, including Ligat Pelephone and Ligat Toto.
Competition
There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season the two lowest placed teams are relegated to Liga Leumit and the top two teams from Liga Leumit are promoted in their place. For the 2009–10 season the league was expanded to 16 clubs as a result of reforms passed by the IFA on 24 June 2008.[1]
The top team in the league qualifies for the early qualification stages of the UEFA Champions League, this means they must win a two-legged knockout tie in order to enter the group phase. The second and third placed teams together with the State Cup winner qualify for the early qualification stages of the UEFA Europa League, though if the State Cup champions finish in the top three, the State Cup's UEFA Europa League spot goes to the fourth placed team in the League.
Member clubs, 2009–10
Current Premier League clubs (2009–10)
- Beitar Jerusalem
- Bnei Yehuda
- Bnei Sakhnin
- F.C. Ashdod
- Hapoel Acre
- Hapoel Be'er Sheva
- Hapoel Haifa
- Hapoel Ramat Gan
- Hapoel Ra'anana
- Hapoel Petah Tikva
- Hapoel Tel Aviv
- Maccabi Ahi Nazareth
- Maccabi Haifa
- Maccabi Netanya
- Maccabi Petah Tikva
- Maccabi Tel Aviv
Sponsorship
In recent years, the league has been sponsored. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:
- 2002–2004: Pelephone - a mobile phone company (Ligat Pelephone)
- 2005–present: Toto Organization - the football pools company (Ligat Toto)
Number of foreigners
Teams are limited to five foreign players per team. Special circumstances such as Druze players from the Golan (no citizenship) or cases such as that of Toto Tamuz, do not count against the foreign player limit.
Broadcast Rights
Television
The matches are broadcast live on Sport 1 and Sport 2 channels except of the big match of the week which is reserved to be shown by Channel 1 network television on Monday nights. There is also a league review show on Sunday nights at Sport 5 channel.
Abroad, rights to broadcasting in Hebrew are owned by The Israeli Network which broadcasts the matches in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Panama, Costa Rica and Europe. Currently, no company has purchased the rights to broadcast matches abroad in any other language.
Radio
The rights of broadcasting on the radio belongs to Reshet Bet network which broadcasts "Songs and Goals" every Saturday afternoon.
Internet
In 2008, The broadcast rights over the internet were purchased by ONE sport website.
Mobile phone
In 2007, Pelephone company acquired the rights of broadcasting games and summaries on the mobile. The company usually broadcasts the live match on Monday night.
Revenue
Main sources of revenue for the clubs:
- Television
- Ticket sales
- Merchandise
- Toto - The Israel Sports Betting Board
- Sponsorship
UEFA league ranking
- Last updated: December 18, 2009.
- 18
Gambrinus liga - 19
Austrian Football Bundesliga - 20 Israeli Premier League
- 21
Cypriot First Division - 22
Norwegian Premier League
- Source: UEFA coefficients full list
Champions
- See also: Israeli football champions
Champions
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Total championships
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Top goalscorers by season
References
- ^ Despite opposition, IFA committee passes reforms Haaretz, 24 June 2008
External links
- Israel Football Association
- Ligat Al Soccerway
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
