The Royal League was an annual Scandinavian football tournament held three times between teams from the three Scandinavian monarchies ( Denmark , Sweden , and Norway ), starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. Denmark, however, was in mid-season when the tournament started. The four best-placed teams in the football leagues of Denmark , Norway and Sweden participate in the tournament.
18-518: There was discussion of expanding the league, and include the winners of Veikkausliiga and Landsbankadeild , which are the Finnish and the Icelandic premier divisions. The 2007–08 edition was cancelled for financial reasons. For the 2004–05 Royal League tournament, the twelve participating teams were initially placed into three groups. The two best-placed teams from each country were placed in
36-542: A league system reform, and the Suomensarja was renamed II divisioona , or 2nd Division , with regional sections. In 1973, this level of football in Finland became nationwide, and the new name was 1. divisioona (First Division). The name Ykkönen has been used since 1995. The new nation-wide third-tier Ykkönen will start running in 2024, as the first ever nation-wide third-tier league in Finland. Like
54-647: A two-leg play-off versus the Ykkönen runner-up. In 2010 the average annual salary with fringe benefits for a league player was 24,400 euros. During the 2022 season, the highest earning league players earned just shy of €200,000. Veikkausliiga is a founding member of the European Professional Football Leagues association. During 2019–2024, the certain Veikkausliiga Europa Play-offs were played after
72-527: The Veikkausliiga and Ykkösliiga , Ykkönen is played mainly during the summer. It comprises 12 clubs, all of whom play 27 matches. After 22 games the division is divided to teams who finished 1-6 and 7-12. These teams play against each other once. The winner of the Ykkönen qualifies directly for promotion to Ykkösliiga . The teams that finish second, third, and fourth play a one legged playoff, with
90-814: The 2024 season are presented in the table below. Number of seasons includes seasons played in Veikkausliiga and preceding Mestaruussarja and seasons of predecessor teams after season 2023. In the case of mergers, the seasons of the predecessor with the most seasons are counted. The following clubs have won: Finnish Championship Cup Competition (1908–1929) Mestaruussarja (1930–1989) Veikkausliiga (1990–present) 29 clubs have been Champions. Last updated: 1 November 2022. Source: Veikkausliiga.com . Last updated: 1 November 2022. Source: Veikkausliiga.com . The referee committee of Football Association of Finland named ten referees available primarily for Veikkausliiga matches for
108-411: The 2024 season (Category 1). Currently there are four FIFA -certified international referees in Veikkausliiga. Additionally, there are some other referees, certified by Finnish FA, available for Veikkausliiga matches (Category 2). As of 2024, there has not been a female referee named in the Veikkausliiga match. On 8 July 2023, Heini Hyvönen made history as she was the first female assistant referee in
126-400: The Veikkausliiga was played under the name "Futisliiga" ( Swedish : Fotbollsligan ). As with certain other cold-climate European countries, league matches in Finland are played in summer, with a schedule usually from April to October. The format and number of teams has changed frequently. As of 2024, there are 12 teams, which first face the other teams two times in the regular season. After
144-472: The first season. The teams rarely bother to play with their best side, and this leads to a lack of interest. Raising the award money and/or giving direct place in the UEFA Champions League have been suggested as ways to improve the situation. The 2007–08 edition was cancelled for financial reasons, but the board planned to resurrect the tournament for the 2008–09 season. On 11 October 2008 it
162-623: The league, in a match between HJK – FC Lahti . Ykk%C3%B6nen Ykkönen ( Finnish for 'Number One'; Swedish : Ettan ) is the third highest level of the Finnish football league system (after the Veikkausliiga and Ykkösliiga ), managed by the Football Association of Finland . Until the end of 2023, Ykkönen was the second-highest level in Finland, but after the creation of new second-tier Ykkösliiga , it
180-459: The previous edition of the tournament, the knock-out stages were played as single games, with the team having the best group stage record earning home field advantage. The 2007 Royal League Final was contested on 15 March 2007, by Danish team Brøndby IF and FC Copenhagen. Brøndby won 1–0, on a penalty kick converted by Martin Ericsson . The league has received quite a lot of criticism since
198-410: The regular season, the league is divided into championship round (6 teams) and relegation round (6 teams), and teams in both groups play five further matches, with points from the regular season carrying on as usual. The total amount of matches in a season is thus 27. At the end of the season, the last team is relegated to Ykkönen , whose winner is promoted to Veikkausliiga, and the second last team plays
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#1732780928901216-455: The same group, while the two other teams were placed in the two other groups. In each group, each team played against the other three teams, home and away. The two best-placed teams of each group were randomly placed into two new groups. The three teams of each new group played each other, home and away. The 2005 Royal League Final was contested on 26 May 2005, by Swedish team IFK Gothenburg and FC Copenhagen from Denmark . FC Copenhagen won
234-552: The season to decide the one remaining European qualifying spot for the next season. In late November 2024, it was announced the Europa Play-offs would be abolished for the 2025, and the league format would be changed. After 22 rounds (each team had played against each other twice), the last six teams will play a single relegation round, totalling 27 matches, and the six best teams continue to a double championship round, totalling 32 matches. The Veikkausliiga clubs in
252-415: The title following a penalty shootout . In the second season of the tournament , the twelve participating teams were also divided into three preliminary groups. The two best-placed teams of each group, and the two best third-placed teams went on to play quarterfinals. The rest of the tournament was played in a knockout-system. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were played both at home and away, while there
270-422: The top 12 clubs of the country. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus , hence the league's name. Veikkausliiga was founded in 1990; before that the top division was called Mestaruussarja (championship series) since 1930 which was an amateur or semi-professional league. Between 1908 and 1930 the championship was decided as a knock-out cup competition. During the 1990 and 1991 seasons
288-529: Was announced that the 2008–09 season would not be held either, as the TV rights for the tournament had not been sold. There were however plans for a tournament in 2010, but under a new name; Royal Cup. Veikkausliiga Veikkausliiga ( Finnish: [ˈʋei̯kːɑusˌliːɡɑ] ) is the premier division of association football in Finland , the highest tier of the Finnish football league structure , comprising
306-467: Was dropped down one level in the league pyramid. The first league format competition in the second level of Finnish football was called Suomensarja , which was founded in 1936. Before the inauguration of the Suomensarja , from 1930 to 1935, there had been special qualification matches for the right to play in the Mestaruussarja . In the autumn of 1969, the Finnish football underwent
324-400: Was only a single final game to decide the winner. The 2006 Royal League Final was contested on 6 April 2006, by FC Copenhagen and Lillestrøm from Norway. FC Copenhagen won their second title, when Razak Pimpong scored to 1–0 in the last minutes of the game. For the 2006–07 Royal League tournament, the structure of initial group stage and subsequent knockout-stage was kept. As opposed to
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