SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

SPL

 SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

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Scottish Football

1. SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
2. SPL
3. League table
4. History
5. Competition format
6. Criticisms
7. Stastistics 2007-08
8. Promotion andRelegation from 2006–07
9. Events
10. League table
11. Results
12. Goals
13. Kitsand shirt sponsors
14. Attendances
15. Awards
16. Broadcasting rights

League table

Source: BBCSport
Rules for classification: 1^st points; 2^ndgoal difference; 3^rd goals scored.
Gretna: 10 points were deducted from Gretna forgoing into administration.
Intertoto Cup: The highest-placed team who appliedfor theIntertoto Cup and not in an automatic UEFA Cup spot was awarded a placein that competition, Falkirk and Hibernian were the applicants for theIntertoto Cup.
P = Position; Pld = Matchesplayed; W = Matches won; D =Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF= Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD= Goal difference; Pts = Points; (C)= Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P)= Promoted.

Scottish Premier League

The Scottish Premier League, currently known as the Clydesdale Bank Premier League for sponsorship reasons and often known as the Scottish Premier League, Premier League or SPL is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scot. Football League. 

Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in Europe.  

The Scottish Premier League is currently ranked tenth in the UEFA rankings of European leagues, which are based on the performances of member clubs in European competitions.

A total of 17 clubs have competed in the SPL since its inauguration in 1998-99, but only two have won the title: Celtic (the current champions, who won their sixth title in the 2007-08 season) and Rangers (who have four titles).

History

Prior to 1998/99

Previously, the Scottish Football League had a two divisional structure (Divisions One and Two) between which clubs were promoted and relegated at the end of each season. However, by the mid 1970s, this organisation was perceived to be stagnant, and it was decided to split into a three divisional structure: Premier Division (formerly Division One), First Division (formerly Division Two) and a newly added Second Division. This system came into force for the 1975-76 season.

This setup continued until the 1994-95 season, when a four divisional structure was introduced, along with a new Third Division, with all divisions comprising of ten clubs.

Formation of the SPL

In 1998, the football clubs in the Premier Division decided to split from the Scottish Football League and form the Scottish Premier League, following an earlier example in England, which came into force during the 1992-93 season. This decision was fuelled by a desire by the top clubs in Scotland to retain more of the revenue generated by the game. Originally, league sponsorship money was divided proportionally between clubs in all four divisions; after the SPL was formed, this was no longer the case.

Originally the SPL contained 10 clubs, but it subsequently enlarged to 12 for the 2000-01 season onwards. The increase from 10 clubs to 12 was part of the deal offered to obtain approval from SFL member clubs. Since then, the SPL has operated a "split league format" to prevent the need for a 44-game schedule, which was once used in the Scottish Premier Division, but is now considered to be too high a number of games in a league season. Under this system, after 33 games (i.e., when every club has played every other club three times, either twice away and once at home, or vice-versa), the division is split into two halves, and clubs play a further five matches, against the teams in their half of the division, taking their total to 38 games.

This can (and often does) result in the team placed seventh having a higher points total than the team placed sixth, because their final five games are considerably easier. In the 2005/2006 season, the seventh placed club, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, gained more points than the fourth placed club Hibernian.

Promotion and relegation

Providing they meet certain criteria regarding their stadium, the top club from the Scottish First Division is promoted to the SPL, with the 12th-placed SPL club relegated.

In 2003, the league's promotion criteria caused controversy as the chairmen of the member clubs voted against Falkirk's proposed ground share with Airdrie United and stopped the club from having the 10,000 fan stadium capacity it required, thus saving Motherwell from relegation.

The same situation nearly materialised in 2004, but after several votes and discussion, including threats of court cases from Partick Thistle, the team then threatened with prospect of relegation, Inverness Caledonian Thistle were finally allowed promotion provided that they groundshared with north rivals Aberdeen at Pittodrie,  a ground over 100 miles (160 km) away. In 2005, the stadium size criterion for entry to the SPL was reduced to 6,000, thereby allowing Inverness Caledonian Thistle to return to their home stadium during the 2005-06 season.

Sponsorship

The Bank of Scotland, who had sponsored the league since March 1999 (The League was unsponsored for most of the inaugural season), did not renew their sponsorship at the end of the 2006-07 season. Talks began with Clydesdale Bank, and a deal was confirmed shortly afterwards. A four-year deal for £8m came into effect from July 2007.

Competition format

Competition

Hearts take on Hibernian in the EdinburghDerby in December 2006.

There are currentlytwelve clubs in the Scottish Football Premier League.Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. Nopoints are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, thengoal difference,and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with themost points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goaldifference and then goals scored determine the winner.

During the course of aseason, which runs from August until May,each club plays the others at least three times, either once at homeand twice away or vice-versa. After this first phase of matches, bywhich time all clubs will have played 33 games, the league splits intoa 'top six' and a 'bottom six'. Each club then plays a further fivematches against the other five teams in their own section. Pointsachieved during the first phase of 33 matches are carried forward tothe second phase, but the teams will compete only within their ownsections during the second phase. After the first phase has beencompleted, clubs cannot move outwith their own section in the league,even if they achieve more or fewer points than a higher or lower rankedteam, respectively.

At the beginning ofeach season, the Scottish Football Premier League'predict' the likely positions of each club in order to produce afixture schedule which will ensure the best possible chance of eachclub playing each other twice at home and twice away. This is known asthe league seedings and are based on clubs' performance in previousyears. However, should a club predicted to finish in the top six finish in thebottom six, they face the possibility of playing more games away fromhome than at home or vice-versa. This, in turn, has a knock-on effect on the top-six with an imbalanceof fixtures resulting, for example one club may play one team threetimes at home and once away.

The bottom placed Scottish Footballclub are relegated, and swap places with the winner of the ScottishFirst Division, provided that the winner satisfies the league's entrycriteria.

European qualification

Rangersplaying FCBarcelona at the Camp Nou in the 2007–08 Champions League.

The Scottish Football PremierLeague is currently tenth in UEFA's coefficientranking, meaning that two SPL clubs currently qualify forthe UEFA Champions League (the first and second placed clubs) as wellas two qualifying for the UEFA Cup (third placed club and the ScottishCupwinner). If the winner of the Scottish Cup has already qualified forEurope via their league position, the UEFA Cup place is allocated tothe runner-up. If both Scottish Cup final representitives havequalified for Europe via their league position, the final UEFA Cupplace is given the Scottish Football's fourth placed club. Clubs also have theopportunity to apply for qualification to the UEFA Intertoto Cup,which is given to the highest placed applicant, although only two clubshave chosen to play in the tournament since the SPL's inception in1998/99 (Dundee in 2001 and Hibernian in 2004 and 2006). Clubs may alsoqualify for Europe via the UEFA Fair Play ranking.

Since the SPL'sinception, Scotland's UEFA coefficient has increased significantly, having been ranked 26th in 1998/99. In 2003 Celticbecame the first Scottish Football club since 1987 to reach a European final,eventually losing 3-2 to FC Porto after extra-timein the UEFA Cup final. In 2003-04, two Scottish clubs (Celticand Rangers)qualified for theUEFAChampions League for the first time. In 2005-06, Rangers became the first Scottish Football club to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League, a feat which was repeated by Celtic the following two seasons. In the 2007–08 season, three Scottish clubswere competing in Europe after Christmas for the first time since 1970,while in the same season Rangersreached their first European final since their UEFACup Winners' Cup triumph of 1972, which they lost 2–0 toRussian club Zenit St.Petersburg in the UEFACup Final.
During the season Scotland's European representitives collected themost coefficient points since the 1982–83 season.

Criticisms

League format

There has been criticism regarding the current format of the Scottish Football Premier League from several quarters, mostly focused on the controversial 'split' format. In April 2007, current Dundee United manager Craig Levein labeled the format as "rubbish" and a "nonsense", claiming that it resulted in lost revenue for clubs and put more pressure on managers. While Rangers manager Walter Smith branded the format as "unfair" and called for an 18-team league to be considered.  The Scottish Football SPL has defended the split format, however, and dismissed the possibility of expanding the league due to a lack of strong enough clubs within the Football League. 

In March 2008 Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies was the latest to call for a league revamp, claiming that the potential for four matches per season against the same opponent is too many. 

However, all the alternative options are themselves difficult to conceive. A 14-team league, playing all opponents thrice, would fit into the schedule (increase from 38 games to 39) - but could be unfair as, for example, Rangers and Celtic would play twice at one of their grounds, and once at the other.

A 16-team league, playing all opponents twice, would result in a reduction from 38 to 30 matches. It would also replace many high-profile derbies and clashes between bigger clubs, with smaller teams. As a result, clubs would experience severe financial losses which might make a 16-team format unviable.

Leagues of 18 teams (34 matches) or 20 teams (38 matches, as currently) would not face the massive fall in fixture numbers of the 16 team league. However, the increase in matches versus smaller clubs and the huge increase in 'meaningless' mid-table games, might still impact attendances and finance.

Old Firm dominance

One of the maincriticisms of the SPL is the dominance of the two Old Firmclubs, Rangers and Celtic. No team outside the Old Firm has won the SPL since it was formed in 1998 and there has only been one season (2005-06) where both clubs failed to occupy first and second positions, with Hearts finishing second behind Celtic. Both clubs' average home attendances are significantly higher than the other 10 clubs, resulting in the Old Firm having far greater revenues and therefore more money to spend on players. Both clubs also receive significant revenue from regular participation in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup.

However, despite having more resources than other Scottish clubs, the Old Firm still experience difficulty in competing with big clubs from other leagues due to the SPL's relatively low television revenue. A recurring theme in recent years has been the prospect of the two clubs leaving the Scottish football set-up to join either the English set-up, or a European league with clubs from countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal. While some feel that the departure of the Old Firm from the Scottish football setup would be detrimental to Scottish football as a whole, others, such as Craig Levein, believe it would benefit Scottish football due to increased competition among the remaining clubs for the SPL title.

World football's governing body FIFA, however, has ruled out the prospect of any move to the English set-up.

Scottish Football Stastistics 2007-08

The 2007-08 Scottish Premier League season was the tenth season of the Scottish Premier League. It began on August 4, 2007 and was originally due to end on 18 May 2008. Due to Rangers progression to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final and the postponement of fixtures during the winter due to poor weather and the death of Phil O'Donnell, a backlog of Rangers fixtures led the SPL's decision to move the final round of fixtures to 22 May 2008. . It is the first season under the sponsorship of the Clydesdale Bank.

The league champions Celtic qualified directly for the Champions League, while second-placed Rangers qualified for the Second qualifying round. Third-placed Motherwell qualified for the UEFA Cup and Hibernian will play in the Intertoto Cup. First Division Queen of the South also qualified for the UEFA Cup after reaching the Scottish Cup Final. Gretna were relegated to the First Division after just one season in the SPL and will be replaced by Hamilton Academical, who were First Division champions.

Gretna were promoted from the First Division last season and played in the SPL for the first time, replacing Dunfermline Athletic. Gretna did not play at their home stadium (Raydale Park) because it did not meet SPL stadia criteria. Gretna used Fir Park for most of their games instead, although they also played one match at livingston Livingston. 

scottish football statistics 

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL STATISTICS

Promotion andRelegation from 2006–07

Promotedfrom First Divisionto Premier League

• Gretna

Relegatedfrom Premier League to FirstDivision

• Dunfermline Athletic

Events

• December 29: Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell, 35,collapsed on the pitch at Fir Park during a match against Dundee United,and died later that evening.

• March 29: Gretna are relegated after losing 2–0 to St.Mirren at St. Mirren Park. 

• April 19: Hamilton Academical win promotion to the ScottishPremier League as First Divisionchampions following a 2–0 over Clyde.

• May 22: Celtic win a third in a row SPL title afterdefeating Dundee United 1–0. 

League table

scottish football statistics 

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL STATISTICS

Results

Matches 1-22

During matches 1-22 each team plays every other team twice(home and away).

Source: BBCSport
¹The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; White = draw; Red =away team win.
For coming matches, an a indicates there is anarticle about the match.

Matches 23-33

During matches 23-33 each team will play every other team once(either at home or away). This means that during matches 1-33 each teamwill play every other team 3 times (either 1 home, 2 away or2 home, 1 away).

Source: BBCSport
¹The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; White = draw; Red =away team win.
For coming matches, an a indicates there is anarticle about the match.

Matches 34-38

During matches 34-38 each team will play every other team intheir half of the table once (either at home or away).