The Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons[1]) is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League. The First Division was the precursor of the present Premier League until the latter was revamped for the 1980–81 season with the Maltese Challenge League instituted for the 2020–21 season following the premature end of the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Since the 2022–23 season, the league is made up of eighteen teams. Over the course of the season, each team plays twice against the others in the league, resulting in each team completing thirty-four games in total. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the table by:[3]
Total points gained
In the need of a tie-breaker, a play-off game is played. At the end of the season, the top two teams are directly promoted to the Premier League; an additional place is reserved for the winner of the relegation play-off between the twelfth-placed Premier League team and the third-placed Maltese Challenge League side. The four lowest-finishing teams are relegated to the National Amateur League.[4]
maltese, challenge, league, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Maltese Challenge League news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Maltese Challenge League referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons 1 is the second highest division in Maltese football behind the Maltese Premier League The First Division was the precursor of the present Premier League until the latter was revamped for the 1980 81 season with the Maltese Challenge League instituted for the 2020 21 season following the premature end of the previous season due to the COVID 19 pandemic 2 Maltese Challenge LeagueFounded1910 113 years ago 1910 Country Malta 18 teams Number of teams18Level on pyramid2Promotion toMaltese Premier LeagueRelegation toNational Amateur LeagueDomestic cup s Maltese FA TrophyCurrent championsZebbuġ Rangers 2021 22 Current 2022 23 Maltese Challenge League Contents 1 Format 2 Venues 3 Results 4 References 5 External linksFormat EditSince the 2022 23 season the league is made up of eighteen teams Over the course of the season each team plays twice against the others in the league resulting in each team completing thirty four games in total Three points are awarded for a win one for a draw and zero for a loss The teams are ranked in the table by 3 Total points gainedIn the need of a tie breaker a play off game is played At the end of the season the top two teams are directly promoted to the Premier League an additional place is reserved for the winner of the relegation play off between the twelfth placed Premier League team and the third placed Maltese Challenge League side The four lowest finishing teams are relegated to the National Amateur League 4 Venues Edit Centenary Stadium Victor Tedesco Stadium Ta Qali HamrunCentenary Stadium Victor Tedesco StadiumCapacity 3 000 Capacity 1 962 Results EditYear Champions Runner up Third Place Promotion Relegated1996 97 5 Xgħajra Tornados Tarxien Rainbows Santa Luċija Għaxaq1997 98 6 Rabat Ajax St Patrick St George s Dingli Swallows1998 99 7 Gozo Zurrieq Mellieħa Siggiewi1999 00 8 Ħamrun Spartans Xgħajra Tornados Gzira United Zebbuġ Rangers2000 01 Marsa Lija Athletic Tarxien Rainbows Zurrieq2001 02 Marsaxlokk Mosta Qormi St Andrews2002 03 Msida St Joseph Balzan Gozo Xgħajra Tornados2003 04 St Patrick Lija Athletic Tarxien Rainbows Rabat Ajax2004 05 Ħamrun Spartans Mosta Balzan Gozo2005 06 St George s Marsa Lija Athletic St Andrews2006 07 Ħamrun Spartans Mqabba San Ġwann Naxxar Lions2007 08 Tarxien Rainbows Qormi Mellieħa Marsa2008 09 Dingli Swallows Vittoriosa Stars No Promotion Rabat Ajax Senglea Athletic2009 10 Marsaxlokk Vittoriosa Stars St Patrick San Ġwann2010 11 Balzan Mqabba Mosta Pieta Hotspurs Msida St Joseph2011 12 Melita Rabat Ajax St Patrick St George s2012 13 Naxxar Lions Vittoriosa Stars Dingli Swallows Mqabba2013 14 Pieta Hotspurs Zebbuġ Rangers Ħamrun Spartans Zejtun Corinthians2014 15 Pembroke Athleta St Andrews Zurrieq Msida St Joseph Birzebbuġa St Peter s2015 16 Gzira United Ħamrun Spartans Gudja United St George s San Ġwann2016 17 Lija Athetlic Senglea Athletic Naxxar Lions Fgura United Għargħur2017 18 Qormi Pieta Hotspurs Zabbar St Patrick Melita Rabat Ajax2018 19 Sirens Gudja United Santa Luċija Marsa San Ġwann2019 20 Zejtun Corinthians Lija Athetlic No Relegation2020 21 No Promotion Qormi2021 22 Zebbuġ Rangers Marsaxlokk Group A Runner up Pieta Hotspurs Group B Runner up Senglea Athletic Mgarr United Luqa St Andrew s Pembroke Athleta Rabat Ajax St George s References Edit Azzopardi Kevin 12 July 2015 Malta FA BOV agree new three year sponsorship deal Times of Malta BOV Challenge League Malta Football Association Retrieved 7 February 2021 First Division Seasonal Rules Scoresway Retrieved 16 September 2018 2020 21 BOV Premier League set for exciting start Malta Football Association Retrieved 7 February 2021 Malta 1996 97 Season 1997 98 Rothmans Division 1 Final Classification Malta 1998 99 Malta 1999 2000External links EditFirst Division on Malta Football Association This article about a Maltese association football competition is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maltese Challenge League amp oldid 1136975198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
