Full Name: Airtricity League of Ireland First Division Founded: 1985
Tier: 2 Number of Teams: 12
Description:
Professional football in the Republic of Ireland is now organized by the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) after 85 years as an autonomous league. The League of Ireland First Division is the second of two tiers within the overall League of Ireland structure.
League of Ireland First Division Map
League of Ireland First Division Format:
The League of Ireland First Division season begins in March and ends in October.
The 12 teams play each other three times (twice home and once away or vice-versa) for a total of 33 matches.
3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.
Final league position is based on the total number of points earned over the full season.
The team with the most points is considered the league champion and is automatically promoted to the League of Ireland Premier Division.
The 2nd and 3rd place teams enters a promotion. The winner of that match plays off against the loser of the Premier Division relegation playoff for a spot in the Premier Division.
The last place team plays a promotion/relegation playoff with the best senior team from the third-tier A Championship, provided that team finished at least 3rd in its group.
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