View source for Kelssek Championship

{{Infobox football league
| name = Kelssek Championship
| image = [[File:Kelssek Championship logo.png|150px|center]]
| relegation = [[Kelssek Football League|Kelssek National]]
| levels = 1
| teams = 20
| domest_cup = [[Patriotes Cup]]
| confed_cup = [[Champions League]]<br/>[[Challengers Cup]]
}}
The '''Kelssek Championship''' (Frankish: ''Championnat du Kelssek'') is a professional league for soccer clubs which is the highest level of competition in Kelssek. The league is the top division of the [[Kelssek Football League]], which also consists of the National (''Ligue nationale''), and the Association (''Association de la LFK''), which is played in two geographical zones. The competition is governed by the national federation, Football Kelssek. [[Burnaby SC]] is the most successful club with 16 league titles.

Each season the bottom three clubs of the Championship are relegated to the National division. Replacing them are the winners and runner-up of the National and the winners of a playoffs tournament among the teams placing third to sixth. The bottom four clubs of the National division are relegated to the Association while the two regional winners are promoted along with the winners of the playoffs contested between the second and third-placed teams of each region.

All KFL clubs are non-profit societies. While this is not a formal requirement of the league, any club in the KFL must be a member in good standing of the national governing body, Football Kelssek. In turn, FK's rules assume and require compliance with the relevant law on public organizations (generally the republic's Societies Act). FK also enforces transparency and anti-corruption regulations including a rule requiring club members to elect the board of directors, which makes Kelssek clubs unattractive for private investors. A notable feature of the KFL in comparison to other countries is the prestige attached to an absence of sponsorships. While most clubs do in fact need the money, the top clubs make a point of not having sponsor logos on their shirts or "donating" the slot to publicize a charity or public campaign.

Championship matches are televised nationally in Kelssek on the Twelve broadcast network, on Twelve local affiliates, the G/S cable channels, and in French on SRK-Télé and SportVu. Broadcasting rights revenue is evenly divided among teams. The traditional time slot for the flagship nationally broadcast live match each week is TV12's ''Saturday Soccer'', which has been broadcast on Saturdays at 4pm Coastal Time since 1983. The Kelssek Championship ranks third in television viewership in Kelssek, after ice hockey and rugby union.

==International competitions==
The winners and runners-up of the KFL qualify for the [[IFCF]] [[Champions League]] and the teams placing third through fifth qualify for the [[Challengers Cup]]. The top three teams of the KFL National qualify for the [[Liga B Champions Trophy]], but since season 66 teams have declined to enter. [[Burnaby SC]] was the most successful KFL club in the [[UICA]] era, recognized as the UICA Kelssek Club of the Century for reaching the [[Globe Cup]] group stage twice. [[Shearwater FC]] was the first (and so far only) club to win a major international trophy with its win in the [[Champions League 11 final]].

Until IFCF 4, CF Outineau were the only KFL club to have reached the group stage of the [[Champions League]]. IFCF 4 marked a watershed for Kelssek international club competitions as CF Outineau reached the knockout rounds of the Champions League and Burnaby SC and Strathcona Internationals advanced to the knockout rounds of the Challengers Cup, with Strathcona reaching the quarterfinals. The resulting increase in the league's coefficient ranking allowed it to gain an additional place in the Champions League for the first time.

With [[Latrobe Athletic]] reaching the final of the 6th [[Challengers Cup]], the league's ranking improved further to 10th in the world. It peaked at third in the IFCF rankings for the 8th and 9th IFCF seasons. Fans and media continued to debate whether this was an accurate reflection of the league's quality, largely regarding it as among the world's top leagues but clearly a tier below leagues like [[Audioslavia]]'s [[The National League|National League]] and the [[Nephara|Nepharim]] Zenith that were consistently winning IFCF trophies.
==Clubs==
{{Location map+ |Kelssek|width=400 |float=right|caption=Location of teams in the 75th KFL season |places=
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=3.8 |long=9 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Kirkenes FC|Kirkenes]]<br>[[Passerine]]}}</small>|position=top}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=3.7 |long=8.9 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Hamiltonian Cambria|Hamiltonian]]}}</small>|position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=4.2 |long=4 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Strathcona Internationals|Strathcona]]}}</small>|position=right}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=2.6 |long=4.4 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Burnaby SC|Burnaby]]<br>[[Coquitlam United|Coquitlam]]}}</small>|position=right}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=3.8 |long=3 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Mazinaw Vanorian|Mazinaw]]}}</small>|position=right}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=2.7 |long=8.5 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Star of Confederation|SoC]]}}</small>|position=right}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=1.55 |long=8 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[CF Outineau|Outineau]]<br>[[Union Lachaîne|Lachaîne]]}}</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=1.2 |long=9.5 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[CF Saint-Richard|St-Richard]]}}</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=1.8 |long=9.6 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Langlois Océanic|Océanic]]}}</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=2.3 |long=8.3 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[CS Saint-Rémy|St-Rémy]]}}</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=0.65 |long=8.85 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Shearwater FC|Shearwater]]}}</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=6.7 |long=3.1 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[ASC Arvika|Arvika]]}}</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=5.9 |long=6.4 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Clayquot City|Clayquot]]}}</small>|position=right}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=5.1 |long=6.9 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Latrobe Athletic|Latrobe]]}}</small>|position=right}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=3.5 |long=7.7 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Wynleth Flyers|Wynleth]]}}</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=5.4 |long=3.5 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[NGSA Ulyanof|NGSA]]}}</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Kelssek|lat=5.5 |long=8.2 |label=<small>{{nowrap|[[Torbay Thunder|Torbay]]}}</small>|position=right}}
}}
:''Correct as of season 75''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:12em"|Club
! style="width:10em"|Location
! style="width:15em"|Stadium
! style="width:8em"|Capacity
|-
| [[ASC Arvika]] || {{flagicon|Surono}} [[Arvika]] || Community Stadium || 34,700
|-
| [[Burnaby SC]] || {{flagicon|Konoha}} [[Burnaby]]|| [[Stadium Konoha]] || 60,300
|-
| [[Clayquot City]] || {{flagicon|Etnier}} [[Clayquot]] || Kanard Park || 32,600
|-
| [[Coquitlam United]] || {{flagicon|Konoha}} Coquitlam || Maillardville Park || 20,300
|-
| [[CF Outineau]] || {{flagicon|Beaulac}} [[Outineau]] || [[Stade Olympique]] || 55,200
|-
| [[CS Saint-Rémy]] || {{flagicon|Beaulac}} [[Saint-Rémy]] || Stade Intersat || 36,900
|-
| [[Hamiltonian Cambria]] || {{flagicon|Noua Cymru}} Hamilton || B.A. Johnston Field || 27,400
|-
| [[Kirkenes FC]] ||  {{flagicon|Noua Cymru}} [[Kirkenes]] || [[Exhibition Place]] || 38,600
|-
| [[Langlois Océanic]] || {{flagicon|Beaulac}} [[Langlois]] || [[Stade des Pacifiques]] || 32,400
|-
| [[Latrobe Athletic]] || {{flagicon|Etnier}} [[Latrobe]] || [[Macquarie Docklands]] || 55,700
|-
| [[Mazinaw Vanorian]] || {{flagicon|Conryia}} Mazinaw || Crowchilds || 18,100
|-
| [[NGSA Ulyanof]] || {{flagicon|Lupinissia}} [[Ulyanof]] || Stadium of the Stars || 44,600
|-
| [[Passerine]] || {{flagicon|Noua Cymru}} [[Kirkenes]] || Portedowns Park || 26,400
|-
| [[CF Saint-Richard]] || {{flagicon|Beaulac}} Saint-Richard || Stade Michel-Beaulieu || 19,400
|-
| [[Shearwater FC]] || {{flagicon|Haligonia}} [[Breton]] || Kingswharf || 40,500
|-
| [[Star of Confederation]] || {{flagicon|Neorvins Federal Territory}} [[Neorvins]] || The Domain || 17,600
|-
| [[Strathcona Internationals]] || {{flagicon|Conryia}} [[Vickery]] || Bowreach || 27,300
|-
| [[Torbay Thunder]] || {{flagicon|Kewatin}} Torbay || Armidale Plain || 10,300
|-
| [[Union Lachaîne]] || {{flagicon|Beaulac}} [[Outineau]] || Allée des Écluses-Noires || 9,400
|-
| [[Wynleth Flyers]] || {{flagicon|Noua Cymru}} Wynleth-an-Glyndr || Cathysceau || 16,300
|}
==Recent seasons==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:4em" | Season
! style="width:15em"|Champions
! style="width:15em"|Runners-up
! style="width:15em"|Third place
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 50 || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:Langlois Oceanic logo.png|20px]] Langlois Océanic || [[Image:Clayquot_City_logo.png|20px]] Clayquot City
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 51 || [[Image:CF Outineau logo.png|20px]] CF Outineau || North York || [[Image:Kirkenes FC logo.png|17px]] Kirkenes FC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 52 ||[[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:Coquitlam United logo.png|20px]] Coquitlam United || [[Image:Kirkenes FC logo.png|17px]] Kirkenes FC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 53 ||[[Image:Latrobe_AFC_logo.png|20px]] Latrobe AFC || [[Image:Clayquot_City_logo.png|20px]] Clayquot City || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 54 || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:Castors Outineau logo.png|20px]] Castors d'Outineau || [[Image:Langlois Oceanic logo.png|20px]] Langlois Oceánic
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 55 || [[Image:CS_Saint-Remy_logo.png|17px]] CS Saint-Rémy || [[Image:Latrobe_AFC_logo.png|20px]] Latrobe AFC || [[Image:Kirkenes FC logo.png|17px]] Kirkenes FC
|-
|style="text-align:center" | 56 || [[Image:Langlois Oceanic logo.png|20px]] Langlois Océanic || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:ASC Arvika logo.png|17px]] ASC Arvika
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 57 || [[Image:Langlois Oceanic logo.png|20px]] Langlois Océanic || [[Image:CS_Saint-Remy_logo.png|17px]] CS Saint-Rémy || [[Image:CF Outineau logo.png|20px]] CF Outineau
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 58 || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:CS_Saint-Remy_logo.png|17px]] CS Saint-Rémy || [[Image:Latrobe_AFC_logo.png|20px]] Latrobe AFC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 59 || [[Image:Strathcona_Intls_logo.png|17px]] Strathcona Internationals || [[Image:CF Outineau logo.png|20px]] CF Outineau || [[Image:Langlois Oceanic logo.png|20px]] Langlois Océanic
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 60 || [[Image:CF Outineau logo.png|20px]] CF Outineau || [[Image:Kirkenes FC logo.png|17px]] Kirkenes FC || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 61 || [[Image:CS_Saint-Remy_logo.png|17px]] CS Saint-Rémy || [[Image:Kirkenes FC logo.png|17px]] Kirkenes FC || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 62 || [[Image:CS_Saint-Remy_logo.png|17px]] CS Saint-Rémy || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:Kirkenes FC logo.png|17px]] Kirkenes FC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 63 || [[Image:CF Outineau logo.png|20px]] CF Outineau || [[Image:Strathcona_Intls_logo.png|17px]] Strathcona Internationals || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 64 || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:Latrobe_AFC_logo.png|20px]] Latrobe Athletic || [[Image:Kirkenes FC logo.png|17px]] Kirkenes FC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 65 || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:Latrobe_AFC_logo.png|20px]] Latrobe Athletic || [[Image:Shearwater logo.png|17px]] Shearwater
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 66 || [[Image:Langlois Oceanic logo.png|20px]] Langlois Océanic || [[Image:Coquitlam United logo.png|20px]] Coquitlam United || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 67 || [[Image:CF Outineau logo.png|20px]] CF Outineau || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:Langlois Oceanic logo.png|20px]] Langlois Océanic
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 68 || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC || [[Image:Strathcona Intls logo.png|17px]] Strathcona Internationals || [[Image:Shearwater logo.png|17px]] Shearwater
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 69 || [[Image:Latrobe AFC logo.png|20px]] [[Latrobe Athletic]] || [[Image:Shearwater logo.png|17px]] [[Shearwater FC|Shearwater]] || [[Image:Strathcona Intls logo.png|17px]] [[Strathcona Internationals]]
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 70 || [[Image:Shearwater logo.png|17px]] [[Shearwater FC|Shearwater]] || [[Image:Kirkenes FC logo.png|17px]] Kirkenes FC || [[Image:CF Outineau logo.png|20px]] CF Outineau
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 71 || [[Image:Shearwater logo.png|17px]] [[Shearwater FC|Shearwater]] || [[Image:Langlois Oceanic logo.png|20px]] Langlois Océanic ||[[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] Burnaby SC
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 72 || [[Image:Strathcona Intls logo.png|17px]] [[Strathcona Internationals]] || [[Image:CS_Saint-Remy_logo.png|18px]] [[CS Saint-Rémy]] || [[Image:Langlois Oceanic logo.png|20px]] [[Langlois Océanic]]
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 73 || [[Image:CF Outineau logo.png|20px]] [[CF Outineau]] || [[Image:Shearwater logo.png|17px]] [[Shearwater FC|Shearwater]] || [[Image:CS_Saint-Remy_logo.png|18px]] [[CS Saint-Rémy]]
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 74 || [[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] [[Burnaby SC]] || [[Image:Latrobe_AFC_logo.png|20px]] [[Latrobe Athletic]] || [[Image:CS_Saint-Remy_logo.png|18px]] [[CS Saint-Rémy]]
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 75 || [[Image:Kirkenes FC logo.png|17px]] [[Kirkenes FC]] || [[Image:CF Outineau logo.png|20px]] [[CF Outineau]] ||[[Image:Burnaby_SC_logo.png|20px]] [[Burnaby SC]]
|}
==History==
From season 49 to 59, the Championship had 18 clubs and the National Division was played in two regional leauges. The bottom two teams of the Championship were relegated to the National division and the winners of each National Division region were promoted to the Championship. The National Divison was expanded by four clubs from season 53.

The Championship expanded to 20 teams from season 60, adopting its current format, and the National Divison became KFL National with the regions abolished. A third division was added, the KFL Association, with two regions. In season 64, the National division expanded to 22 teams and the Association to two regional leagues of 15 teams, with four teams being promoted and relegated between the second and third tiers.

===Transfers===
KFL Championship clubs typically have annual transfer budgets of [[Universal standard dollar|USD]] 4 to 7 million. The record transfer fee for a Kelssekian player is for [[Loïc Maçon-Petrault]], who was the subject of a USD 18 million transfer within the [[Eura]]league from [[Unioneers]] to [[Directus]] in the 31st transfer window (prior to KFL season 66).

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+ {{Nowrap|Most expensive KFL transfers}}
|-
! scope="row" data-sort-type="number" | Rank
! scope="row" | Player
! scope="row" | From
! scope="row" | To
! scope="row" | Position
! scope="row" | Fee<br>([[Universal standard dollar|USD mln]])
! scope="row" | Season
|-
! 1
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Thamior Liadon]]
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Burnaby SC]]
| {{flagicon|Chromatika}} Myana
| Full-back
| 13.0
| 66
|-
! 2
| {{flagicon|Tumbra}} Lynne Crossley
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Strathcona Internationals]]
|{{flagicon|Chromatika}} [[Crossroads]]
| Midfielder
| 12.0
| 75
|-
! 3
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} Seamus Wylten
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Clayquot City]]
|{{flagicon|Valanora}} [[Hondo FC]]
| Forward
| 10.0
| 64
|-
! rowspan=3 | 4
| {{flagicon|Savigliane}} Anne-Marie Roux
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[FC Novonaya]]
| {{flagicon|Nephara}} [[Crisisbless]]
| Midfielder
| 8.0
| 68
|-
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} Êsêkïl dí Völará 
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Association Ariddienne]]
| {{flagicon|Chromatika}} Crossroads
| Midfielder
| 8.0
| 66
|-
| {{flagicon|Valanora}} Laura Adler
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Mazinaw Vanorian]]
| {{flagicon|Quebec and Shingoryeo}} [[Mipojoseon]]
| Full-back
| 8.0
| 66
|-
! rowspan=2 | 6
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} Bryan Hartpoach
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Strathcona Internationals]]
| {{flagicon|Chromatika}} [[Alnio]]
| Forward
| 7.0
| 72
|-
| {{flagicon|Nephara}} Catheline Matthias
| {{flagicon|Nephara}} Chenoworth Harriers
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Kirkenes FC]]
| Forward
| 7.0
| 69
|-
! rowspan=2 | 8
| {{flagicon|Quebec and Shingoryeo}} Kira Dormann
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Mazinaw Vanorian]]
| {{flagicon|Tumbra}} [[Kingsbury United]]
| Defender
| 6.0
| 72
|-
| {{flagicon|Valanora}} Greta Enger
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[CS Saint-Rémy]]
| {{flagicon|Valanora}} [[Juavi FC]]
| Defender
| 6.0
| 66
|-
! 10
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} Eamon Breault
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Torbay Thunder]]
| {{flagicon|Darmen}} [[Olympique Chuckio]]
| Forward
| 5.5
| 72
|-
! rowspan=3 | 11
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} Eva Karven
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Kirkenes FC]]
| {{flagicon|Taeshan}} Blacklake Blues
| Forward
| 5.0
| 65
|-
| {{flagicon|SRS}} Maiev Feldhlim
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Burnaby SC]]
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[CS Saint-Rémy]]
| Winger
| 5.0
| 69
|-
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} Danielle Maradrogba
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Association Ariddienne]]
| {{flagicon|Nephara}} [[Newrook City]]
| Forward 
| 5.0
| 66
|-
! rowspan=3 | 14
|{{flagicon|Mriin}} Tzevaada Muir
|{{flagicon|Nephara}} Crisisbless United
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Shearwater FC]]
| Defender
| 4.0
| 65
|-
|{{flagicon|Cassadaigua}} Tara Kreidel
|{{flagicon|Cassadaigua}} Concord Heights
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Shearwater FC]]
| Defender
| 4.0
| 66
|-
|{{flagicon|SRS}} Hermann Eld
|{{flagicon|Audioslavia}} [[1830 Cathair]]
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Latrobe Athletic]]
| Forward
| 4.0
| 75
|-
! 17
|{{flagicon|Valladares}} Fabio Coimbra
|{{flagicon|Valladares}} Valencia
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Clayquot City]]
| Forward
| 3.6
| 69
|-
! 18
|{{flagicon|SRS}} Brion Stienno
| {{flagicon|SRS}} Emerald Coast
| {{flagicon|Kelssek}} [[Burnaby SC]]
| Forward
| 3.5
| 62
|}
{{First-division football leagues}}