Japanese Regional Football Leagues Finals
The Japanese football regional leagues-finals ( Jap. 全国地域サッカーチャンピオンズリーグ Zenkoku Chiiki Sakka Chanpionsu Rīgu is literal translation as "National Regional Football Champions League") is a football contest, the determining advancement eligible teams from the Japanese regional leagues in the Japan Football League serves. Twelve teams take part in it, including the champions of the nine regional leagues and three other clubs that usually qualify through the amateur cup. The final round takes place in November each year; In 2017, the three preliminary round groups were played in the prefectures of Tochigi , Hyogo and Kagoshima , the games of the final round took place at the Ichihara Seaside Stadium .
history
Before the introduction of the final round, the possible promoters in the Japan Soccer League were usually determined by the performance in the amateur cup , the two finalists of this competition played relegation games against the bottom two of the JSL. However, since the amateur cup was played in the classic knockout system (and still is today), the Japanese Football Association decided in 1977 to introduce a competition in league format in order to better test possible promoted players.
The number of promotion places available has varied over the years and there have not always been direct promoters to the higher leagues. In the first two years, the two best teams in the final round played two relegation games against the bottom two of the Japan Soccer League; the winner of the final round competed against the last of the JSL, the second placed competitor against the JSL penultimate. In 1979, the winner of the tournament was directly eligible for promotion for the first time, but the second still had to play relegation games against the JSL penultimate. It was not until 1986 that the current regulation of normally two fixed promotion positions came about, unless restructuring at the higher levels of the league pyramid made more or less promoters necessary.
By 2009, sixteen clubs had taken part in the final round. In addition to the nine regional league champions, these were also the runners-up from the regions whose participants had reached the final round in the previous year (two to four clubs), a university team, the amateur cup winner (if not already qualified via the league) and at least one other club ( if there are free places, several), which was named by the association. This special composition of the field of participants enabled three university teams to qualify for the Japan Football League . The sixteen teams were divided into four groups of four, the winners of which determined the promoted team in the final round.
Comprehensive changes came into force in 2010. Among other things, the right of the university football association to propose a club for the final round was deleted, as was the right of the Japanese association to propose vacancies, and the field of participants was reduced to twelve teams. On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, the competition was given its current Japanese name in 2016, until then it was known as ( 全国 地域 サ ッ カ ー リ ー グ 決勝 大会 Zenkoku Chiiki Sakkā Rīgu Kesshō Taikai , dt. "National Regional Football League Finals").
Tournament format
Eligible clubs
Since 2010, a total of twelve teams have qualified for the competition. These are determined in the following order:
- All champions of the nine regional leagues (nine clubs in total) are automatically qualified. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, the champions of a region are unable to take part in the competition, the runner-up moves up. Should this also not be able to participate, the Japanese Football Association will designate a replacement club.
- Up to three clubs qualify via the amateur cup . These are usually the top three teams in the competition; if there are already qualified teams from the regional leagues, the fourth placed team will move up.
- If there are still vacancies, one of these has been awarded since 2016 to a club that has the 100-year plan status of the J. League and has taken second place in its regional league. If there are several such clubs, the team with the longest status will be awarded the contract.
- If, after taking into account the above criteria, there are still vacancies, these have been allocated since 2010 in the order below to the highest ranking regions that have not yet enjoyed this right; In this case, in addition to the master, the runner-up (or third-placed if the master cannot participate) of the relevant regional league is also qualified:
- Tōhoku
- Shikoku
- Kantō - last awarded to Saitama SC in 2010
- Kansai - last awarded in 2011 to Banditonce Kakogawa
- Kyūshū - last awarded to FC Kagoshima in 2013
- Tōkai - last awarded to FC Kariya in 2017
- Hokkaidō - Norbritz Hokkaido waived in 2018
- Chūgoku - Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC waived in 2018
- Hokushin'etsu - last awarded to Artista Asama in 2018
mode
Similar to a world or European championship , the regional league finals take place every year in a single prefecture. The twelve teams are divided into three groups of four teams, each club plays exactly once against each other group member. The three group winners as well as the best runner-up reach the final round, here too each team plays once against each opponent.
There are three points for a win; if there is a draw after 90 minutes, a penalty shoot- out will take place immediately afterwards , the winner of which receives two points and the loser of one point. Group winner is the team with the most points; in the event of a tie, the following criteria are used in succession: goal difference, goals scored, direct comparison, outcome of the penalty shoot-out, if any, drawing of lots.
Number of climbers
At the moment, the top two teams in the finals are promoted directly to the Japan Football League . The number of promoters as well as the type of promotion opportunity (direct promotion, relegation matches ) and the promotion goal have varied considerably over time:
- 1977–78: Relegation in two-legged matches against representatives of the Japan Soccer League ; Winner of the final against the bottom of the JSL table, second place against the JSL penultimate
- 1979–83: The final round winner is promoted directly to the Japan Soccer League, the runner-up plays relegation in a two-legged match against the JSL penultimate
- 1984–85: Four direct promoters due to the expansion of the Japan Soccer League
- 1986–92: Two direct promoters in the Japan Soccer League (until 1991) and the old Japan Football League (1992)
- 1993: Relegation in two legs against representatives of the Japan Football League; Final round winner against bottom of the JFL (since the winner waived, the runner-up played the relegation instead)
- 1994–97: Two direct promoters in the Japan Football League
- 1998: A direct climber to the new Japan Football League
- 1999–2001: Two direct promoters to the Japan Football League
- 2002: Relegation in the first and second leg against representatives of the Japan Football League; Winner of the final against sixteenth in the table of the JFL, runner-up against the JFL-fifteenth
- 2003: Final round winner moves up straight to the Japan Football League, the runner-up plays relegation in a two-legged match against the last JFL
- 2004–05: Three direct promoters to the Japan Football League
- 2006: The final round winner is promoted directly to the Japan Football League, the runner-up plays relegation in a two-legged match against the last JFL
- 2007–12: Two direct promoters to the Japan Football League, third-placed player plays relegation in two-legged matches against a JFL club; 2007, 2008 and 2011 three direct climbers due to withdrawals or mergers
- 2013: three direct climbers; The final winners rose to the J3 League , second and third place in the Japan Football League
- since 2014: Two direct promoters in the Japan Football League, in 2014 also third promoted due to a free place in the JFL
statistics
Finalists and their placements
Teams that are highlighted in light blue were promoted to a higher league.
Remarks
- ↑ Club failed in the relegation game
- ↑ a b c Club decided not to go up for financial reasons
- ↑ a b Club rose despite failure in the finals due to expansion of the Japan Football League on placement in the amateur cup
Winner by region
Clubs in bold are today playing in one of the three divisions of the J. League (as of the 2019 season). Clubs in italics no longer exist today. A cross (†) indicates that the club has moved to another region after winning the title.
| region | Number of titles | societies |
|---|---|---|
| Kanto | 12 | FC Machida Zelvia , Ōmiya Ardija , SC Sagamihara , Sagawa Express Tokyo SC , Saitama SC , Thespa Kusatsu , Toho Titanium SC , FC Tokyo , Yokogawa Denki , Yokohama Wing , Yokohama SCC , Yomiuri Club Juniors |
| Tōkai | 10 | Cosmo Oil SC (2), Júbilo Iwata (2), FC Kariya (2), Jatco FC , Nagoya SC, Seinō Transportation SC , Tosu Futures † |
| Tōhoku | 6th | Blaublitz Akita , Grulla Morioka , Cobaltore Onagawa , ReinMeer Aomori FC , Sony Sendai FC , Vegalta Sendai |
| Kansai | 4th | Ain Foods, Nara Club , Osaka Gas SC , Sagawa Express Osaka SC |
| Chūgoku | 4th | Fagiano Okayama , Matsue City FC , Mazda Auto Hiroshima, Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC |
| Shikoku | 3 | Teijin SC , Kamatamare Sanuki , Imabari FC |
| Hokushin'etsu | 2 | ALO's Hokuriku , Matsumoto Yamaga FC |
| Kyushu | 1 | FC Ryūkyū |
| Hokkaidō | so far none |
Individual evidence
- ↑ 大会 ・ 試 合 全国 地域 サ ッ カ ー チ ャ ン ン ピ オ ン ズ リ ー グ 2017. In: jfa.jp. Japanese Football Association, accessed October 18, 2017 (Japanese).
- ↑ a b 全国 地域 サ ッ カ ー チ ャ ン ピ オ ン ズ リ ー グ 2016. In: jffms.jp. Japanese Football Federation for Members of Society, accessed August 5, 2016 (Japanese).
- ↑ a b c d 大会 要 項. Japan Football Association , accessed July 21, 2016 (Japanese).
Web links
Official site (English, Japanese)