Tikariotian football league system
The Tikariotian football league system, also known as the Tikariotian football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in Tikariot. The system has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, allowing for clubs to rise and fall within the system
About
The system consists of a pyramid of leagues, bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. The most successful clubs in each league will be promoted to a higher league, whilst those that finish the season at the bottom of their league will be relegated to the next lower league.
The top three levels contain one division each while the fourth and fifth divisions are split into two groups each. These leagues are widely defined as the Tikariotian League, as they contain all off the professional and semi-professional clubs.
Structure
The first 5 levels of the system are well defined, as the are under the oversight of the Tikariot Football Federation (TFF). At the very top of the pyramid is the Tikariot Premier League (Level 1, widely referred to as the "top-flight"), consisting of 24 clubs. Below the Tikariot Premier League is the Tikariot Second League (Level 2), comprising of 22 clubs. All the clubs in the top 2 levels are of professional status, and both leagues are directly managed by the RFF. Below is the Tikariot National League (Level 3-5), comprising of a single-tier third division of 22 clubs and two two-tiered fourth and fifth divisions with 20 clubs each. Below the Tikariot National League, it is the beginning of non-League football. Officially, these leagues are managed by various provincial football associations, and there is no way for teams to get from these leagues to the National League unless they become a full member club of the TFF.
Promotion/Relegation Structure
- Tikariot Premier League (level 1, 24 teams): The bottom 4 teams are relegated.
- Tikariot Second League (level 2, 22 teams): Top 4 teams promoted. The bottom 4 teams are relegated.
- Tikariot National League 1 (level 3, 22 teams): The top 4 teams are automatically promoted. The bottom 4 teams are relegated.
- Tikariot National League 2 (level 4, 2 groups of 20 teams): The top 2 teams are promoted. The bottom 4 teams are relegated.
- Tikariot National League 3 (level 5, 4 groups of 20 teams): The top 4 teams are promoted. Up to 1-2 teams may be relegated, subject to whether there is any teams that will be promoted from the respective provincial leagues.
The System
Below is a summary of the top 5 levels in the pyramid.
| Level | League/Division | Number of Clubs | Promotion | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tikariot Premier League | 24 clubs | – | 4 clubs |
| 2 | Tikariot Second League | 22 clubs | 4 clubs | 4 clubs |
| 3 | Tikariot National League 1 | 22 clubs | 4 clubs | 4 clubs |
| 4 | Tikariot National League 2 | 40 clubs | 4 clubs | 8 clubs |
| 5 | Tikariot National League 3 | 80 clubs | 8 clubs | – |