2024–25 Czech First League Explained
The 2024–25 Czech First League, known as the Chance liga for sponsorship reasons, will be the 32nd season of the Czech Republic's top-tier football for professional clubs since its establishment, in 1993. Sparta Prague are the reigning champions. The season is scheduled to start in July 2024. The first half of the season will have 19 rounds, finishing in December, and the other half will commence in February 2025. The season is expected to end on 25 May 2025 with two extra play-out fixtures on 29 May and 1 June 2025.[1]
Format
Starting with the 2024–25 season, the league will be called "Chance Liga" after its new main sponsor, Chance betting office.[2] The general season format is unchanged from last season, each team will play in the league format home and away matches. The lowest-ranked team will be relegated directly to the second league, and the two teams positioned 14th and 15th will play a play-out with two teams from the second league positioned 2nd and 3rd in a home and away format. The change is the cancellation of the Conference League play-off final between the 5th and 7th teams in the table. The winner of the middle group (i.e. the team placed 7th) will only receive a financial bonus.[3]
This will be the seventh season to use VAR, featuring it in all matches played. The VAR central workplace in Prague 4-Michle will be used for the first time. VAR will have offside line technology available for the first time.[4]
In the 2024–25 season, three new rules were introduced. Teams will be able to use a sixth substitution if there is a head injury or concussion. The punishment of a player in a situation where a player spoils a clear scoring opportunity with his hand will be changed, and only a yellow card will be awarded instead of a red card. The assessment of premature running of players into the penalty area during a penalty will also change.[5]
Other changes concern the dates of matches, which is partly due to the new format of the European competitions. The spring part will start a week earlier than in previous years (on 1 February) and the exact dates of the matches will be determined further in advance than three weeks, as has been the case so far.[1]
Teams
Promotion and relegation (pre-season)
A total of sixteen teams contest the league, including thirteen sides from the 2023–24 season, the winner of last season's second league, and two winners of the play-out, determined on 2 June.
- Team promoted to Czech First LeagueAfter being relegated in the 2018–19 season, FK Dukla Prague returns to Czech First League as the champion of the 2023–24 Czech National Football League.[6]
- Teams relegated from Czech First LeagueThe lowest positioned team from the last season, FC Zlín, was relegated to the Czech National Football League.
Locations and stadiums
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | |
---|
Bohemians 1905 | Prague | Ďolíček | 6,300 | [7] |
SK Dynamo České Budějovice | České Budějovice | Stadion Střelecký ostrov | 6,681 | [8] |
FK Dukla Prague | Prague | Stadion Juliska | 8,150 | [9] |
FC Hradec Králové | Hradec Králové | Malšovická aréna | 9,300 | [10] |
FK Jablonec | Jablonec nad Nisou | Stadion Střelnice | 6,108 | [11] |
MFK Karviná | Karviná | Městský stadion (Karviná) | 4,833 | [12] |
FC Slovan Liberec | Liberec | Stadion u Nisy | 9,900 | [13] |
FK Mladá Boleslav | Mladá Boleslav | Lokotrans Aréna | 5,000 | [14] |
SK Sigma Olomouc | Olomouc | Andrův stadion | 12,474 | [15] |
FC Baník Ostrava | Ostrava | Městský stadion (Ostrava) | 15,123 | [16] |
FK Pardubice | Pardubice | CFIG Arena | 4,620 | [17] |
FC Viktoria Plzeň | Plzeň | Doosan Arena | 11,700 | [18] |
SK Slavia Prague | Prague | Fortuna Arena | 19,370 | [19] |
1. FC Slovácko | Uherské Hradiště | Městský fotbalový stadion Miroslava Valenty | 8,000 | [20] |
AC Sparta Prague | Prague | epet ARENA | 18,944 | [21] |
FK Teplice | Teplice | Na Stínadlech | 18,221 | [22] | |
Rank | Region | Number of teams | Club(s) |
---|
1 | | 4 | Bohemians 1905, Dukla Prague, Sparta Prague, Slavia Prague |
2 | | 2 | Jablonec, Slovan Liberec |
| Baník Ostrava, Karviná |
5 | | 1 | Mladá Boleslav |
| Hradec Králové |
| Sigma Olomouc |
| Pardubice |
| Viktoria Plzeň |
| Dynamo České Budějovice |
| Teplice |
| Slovácko | |
Managerial changes
Ahead of the season:
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Contract valid until |
---|
| [23] | End of contract | | | | Undisclosed |
| [24] | Mutual consent | | | | Undisclosed |
| [25] | Sacked | | | | Undisclosed |
| [26] | Sacked | | | | Undisclosed |
| [27] | Mutual consent | | | | Undisclosed |
| [28] | Mutual consent | | | | Undisclosed |
| [29] | Sacked | | [30] | | Undisclosed | |
During the season:
Regular season
League table
Results
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Příští sezona fotbalové ligy začne 20. července, jaro o týden dřív než dosud. iDNES.cz. cs. 2023-11-28. Mafra.
- Web site: Čtvrt miliardy za jméno fotbalové ligy. Tendr vyhrála sázková kancelář Chance. iDNES.cz. cs. 2024-04-17. Mafra.
- Web site: Velká změna v lize! Prostřední skupina nadstavby už nebude motivována evropskými poháry, nýbrž pouhou finanční injekcí. ruik.cz. cs. 2024-06-21.
- Web site: VAR na jednom místě. Sudí ve fotbalové lize od léta uvítají novinku. iDNES.cz. cs. 2024-06-13. Mafra.
- Web site: Z trabantu do škodovky. Šéf sudích Kovařík o změnách i inspiraci z Eura. iDNES.cz. cs. 2024-07-12. Mafra.
- Web site: Fotbalisté pražské Dukly se vrací do nejvyšší soutěže, dvě kola před koncem ligy slaví přímý postup. Czech Radio. cs. 2024-05-12.
- Web site: Club info Bohemians 1905. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info SK Dynamo České Budějovice. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info FK Dukla Praha. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info FC Hradec Králové. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info FK Jablonec. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info MFK Karviná. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info FC Slovan Liberec. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info FK Mladá Boleslav. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info SK Sigma Olomouc. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info FC Baník Ostrava. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info FK Pardubice. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info FC Viktoria Plzeň. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info SK Slavia Praha. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info 1. FC Slovácko. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info AC Sparta Praha. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Club info FK Teplice. Chance Liga. 2024-06-13.
- Web site: Liberec potvrdil příchod trenéra Kováče, podepsal s ním dlouhodobou smlouvu. ČeskéNoviny.cz. Czech News Agency. cs. 2024-05-26.
- Web site: Potvrzeno. Fotbalisty Pardubic povede do nové sezony trenér Saňák. iDNES.cz. cs. 2024-05-27. Mafra.
- Web site: Potvrzeno, Janotka novým trenérem Sigmy. Ani jsem o tom nesnil, říká. iDNES.cz. cs. 2024-05-29. Mafra.
- News: Jícha. Ondřej. Hyský se po třech letech loučí, míří do Karviné. Nahrazuje ho Majer. Benešovský deník. Vltava Labe Media. cs. 2024-06-11.
- Web site: Priske jde do Feyenoordu. Sparta obdrží 60 milionů a koučem jmenovala Friise. iDNES.cz. cs. 2024-06-12. Mafra.
- Web site: Slovácko ohlásilo Svědíkova nástupce. Prvoligová premiéra čeká kouče Westa. iDNES.cz. cs. 2024-06-12. Mafra.
- Web site: Trenér Látal končí v Jablonci. Vedení fotbalového klubu ho po nepodařené sezoně odvolalo. Czech Radio. cs. 2024-06-07.
- Web site: Kozel zůstává na severu Čech, po konci v Liberci povede Jablonec. iDNES.cz. cs. 2024-06-17. Mafra.
- Web site: Bartoš. Jonáš. Čistka v Dynamu: Vedení odvolalo trenéry, do ligy se vrací Straka. 28 July 2024. Blesk. cs. Czech News Center. 28 July 2024.