Poafmersian football league system

This article is about current system. For previous system, see Poafmersian football league system (2095-2099).

The Poafmersian football league system, also known as the Poafmersian football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for men's association football clubs in Poafmersia. The system has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, allowing even the smallest club the theoretical possibility of ultimately rising to the very top of the system. The current system was established in 2100, following the 2099 football league reforms.

As Poafmersia's football league is of mixed-gender, any reference to a football league system refers to this system.

History

Pre-2089: Semi-professional system

Football in Poafmersia used to be played at a state level. There was little to no interaction between football clubs from various states, and there was little records of football back then.

2089-2094: Establishment of professional football

In early 2088, the Association of Professional Football Clubs (APC) was set up in Poafmersia, aimed at establishing a community of professional football clubs. The earliest members included Fiskadaha FC, Dury FC and Mancodas Athletic FC, the first 3 clubs who proposed to establish a full professional football league in Poafmersia. The APC established a task force, aimed at developing a professional football league system in the country.

As the notion of playing football as a profession gained traction in Poafmersia, the APC set up the Poafmersia Champions' Cup. The competition will feature the winners of the state leagues, playing with each other in a single round-robin format. The team with the best record will clinch the Cup. Apart from the Cup, there was still no official avenue for professional teams in different leagues to come together to play each other.

2095-2099: First National Football League System

Further information: Poafmersian football league system (2095-2099)

Following the Suliaha Plan, the Poafmersian Football Association (PFFA) was set up as the overall governing organisation of football in the country. The establishment of the Poafmersian national football team fast-tracked the establishment of a football league system on a nation-wide level. The PFFA established the PFFA Premier League and the PFFA Super League, comprising 40 professional teams from all around the world, as well as the PF National League for semi-professional teams to come together on a national level to play football.

2100: Current System

Poafmersia rose to become a top-32 association in the multiverse, and the fixture congestions caused by participation in the FFI and IFCF club competitions, the teams agreed to restructure the entire football league system, expanding the number of divisons at the national level from 5 divisions to 7 divisions. The new structure comprises of a smaller number of teams at the top 2 levels, allowing for less fixtures overall, giving an opportunity for Poafmersian teams to focus their attention on the regional club competitions.

The establishment of the new system also marks the very first time teams in the state leagues may be promoted to the national system. The creation of the Poafmersian Champions League paves the way for more teams to get the opportunity to play with other teams from other states. Teams are now able to theoretically climb from the very bottom to the top of the pyramid, though the status of the club may hinder them from promotions.

About

The system consists of a pyramid of leagues, bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. A certain number of the most successful clubs in each league can rise to a higher league, whilst those that finish the season at the bottom of their league can find themselves sinking down a level. In addition to sporting performance, promotion is usually contingent on meeting criteria set by the higher league, especially concerning appropriate facilities and finances. Therefore, although an amateur club may not have a direct path to rise to the very top of the system, there certainly is significant movement within the pyramid.

The top six levels contain one division each and are nationwide in scope. These leagues are widely defined as the Poafmersian League, as they contain all off the professional and semi-professional clubs. On the other hand, most of the part-time football clubs are found at level 7 and below.

Structure

The first 7 levels of the system are well defined, as the are under the oversight of the Poafmersia Football Association (PFFA). The first 6 levels of the football system are of a single nation-wide league. At the very top is the Apex (Level 1, widely referred to as the "top-flight"), consisting of 16 clubs. Below the Poafmersian Apex is the PFFA Supreme League (Level 2), comprising of another 16 clubs. This is followed by the PFFA Challenge League (Level 3), PFFA Glory League (Level 4), and the PFFA Honour League (Level 5), each comprising of 20 clubs respectively. Below the PFFA Honour League, it is the beginning of non-League football. There is, however, 2 tiers of football there has some form of partial oversight by the PFFA. The Poafmersian Football Conference (Level 6) comprises of 12 teams, and is known as the "revolving door" due to the sheer number of team changes in the league every year (8 teams, 4 promoted, 4 relegated). The 7th level, known collectively as the Poafmersian Champions League (Level 7), comprises of 2 separate divisions. Teams are separated into either divisions based on geographical location. This is the last tier of national-level football league, and teams who are relegated from the competition will return to their respective state leagues. Officially, the state-based leagues are managed by various state football associations, and do not fall under the management of the PFFA. However, teams that wish to enter the Poafmersian Champions League must fulfil some of the basic requirements laid out by the PFFA, such as being a full member of PFFA.

Promotion/Relegation Structure

1. Apex (level 1, 16 teams): The bottom 2 teams are relegated; the 3rd from bottom plays a two-leg playoff with the 3rd placed team from the Supreme League.
2. PFFA Supreme League (level 2, 16 teams): Top 2 teams are automatically promoted; the 3rd placed team will compete in the relegation playoff. The bottom 2 teams are relegated.
3. PFFA Challenge League (level 3, 20 teams): The top 2 teams are automatically promoted. The bottom 2 teams are relegated.
4. PFFA Glory League (level 4, 20 teams): The top 2 teams are automatically promoted. The bottom 2 teams are relegated.
5. PFFA Honour League (level 5, 20 teams): The top 2 teams are automatically promoted. The bottom 4 teams are relegated.
6. Poafmersian Football Conference (level 6, 12 teams): In the promotion group, the top 4 teams are automatically promoted. In the relegation group, the bottom 4 teams are relegated.
7. Poafmersian Champions League (level 7, 2 divisions of 12 teams): The top 2 teams of each division are automatically promoted. 10 teams are relegated.
8. State Leagues (level 8 and below)