The Cypriot First Division (Greek: Πρωτάθλημα Α΄ Κατηγορίας), also known as the Cyprus League by Stoiximan for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Cyprus and the highest level of the Cypriot football league system. Operated by the Cyprus Football Association,[1] the league is contested by fourteen teams and runs from August to May, with the three lowest-placed teams being relegated to the Cypriot Second Division, and replaced by the top three teams in that division.
Football was introduced to Cyprus early in the 20th century by the British. Initially played in the island's schools, it proved hugely popular and a number of clubs were duly formed.
Anorthosis Famagusta FC was founded in 1911, after which many other clubs were established. In 1932, the annual Cypriot Championship began, at first unofficially. Every season, the championship was organised by a different football club, which caused conflict among some of the teams.
As football became more established, the clubs were united in agreeing that an official body was needed to regulate the sport. In September 1934, the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) was formed and the Cypriot Championship and Cup began to take place annually.[2] The first Champions of Cyprus were Trust in 1935, but the club folded three years later. The 1930s were dominated by APOEL, who won five championships in a row until 1940. Like other championships throughout the world, the Cypriot Championship was interrupted due to World War II from 1941 until 1945.[citation needed]
In 1955, Çetinkaya Türk S.K., who had been the only Turkish Cypriot team playing in the Cypriot First Division since 1934–35, withdrew from the Championship and, along with other Turkish Cypriot teams, established the Cyprus Turkish Football Association, with its own competitions. The reason behind this was political, as the Turkish Cypriots were opposed to the anticolonial struggle of EOKA and union with Greece (enosis). However, this federation was never recognised, and none of its teams was permitted to play in international competitions.
Cypriot independence in 1960 was followed by full UEFA membership for the Cyprus Football Association in 1962. From 1963, the champions of Cyprus could compete in the European Cup and the Cup winners in the European Cup Winners Cup. The runners-up in the Greek Cypriot First Division began to compete in the UEFA Cup in 1971. From 1967 until 1974, the Greek Cypriot Champions were promoted to the Greek First National Division. Greek Cypriot teams were relegated every season from the Alpha Ethniki, apart from 1973–74, when APOEL managed to remain in the Greek Championship, which meant that Cyprus would have two teams in Greek top tier. However, due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus that year, APOEL and Omonia (the 1973–74 Cypriot champions) withdrew from the League.[citation needed]
From the beginning of the 2000's, the Cypriot First Division started to improve in quality which leaded to some surprising runs to the Champions League by teams like Anorthosis Famagusta, APOEL Nicosia and most recently Paphos. The Cyprus national team couldn't benefit from this success, as most game time among most teams in the Cypriot First Division go to foreign players.
Format
Current format
As of the 2022-23 season, 14 clubs compete in the league, and are ranked based on the point system described below. Each club plays the other sides twice, home and away, for a total of 26 games for each club. This is referred to as the first round of the league. In the second round, the teams are divided into two groups; the teams ranked 1st to 6th play off for the title and European spots in Group A, while the bottom eight teams battle to avoid relegation in Group B. Group A is often referred to as the Championship Play-offs, while Group B is referred to as the Relegation Play-offs. Each team's points and criteria, such as goal difference, goals scored, etc. are retained during the transition from first to second round. Similarly to the first round, every club plays the other sides twice, for a total of 10 or 14 games for each club, in Group A and Group B respectively.
At the end of the second round, the club ranked 1st in Group A is declared the winner of the league. The champion qualifies for the UEFA Champions League, while the second and third placed teams enter the UEFA Europa Conference League. If the cup winners finish in third or above, the fourth placed team also enters the UEFA Europa Conference League. Meanwhile, the bottom three teams in Group B are relegated to the Second Division.
Previous formats
From 2007–08 until 2012–13 season, in the second round, the first 12 (out of 14) teams were separated into three groups of four teams according to their position at the end of the first round. For the 2013–14 season, in the second round, the first 12 (out of 14) teams were separated into two groups of six teams according to their position at the end of the first round. The last two teams of the first round were relegated directly to the B1 Division and the bottom two teams of the relegation group also. The points from the first round were carried to the second round and the teams played each other twice.[citation needed]
Point system
The point system of the Cypriot First Division has changed throughout the years:
From 1934–35 until 1959–60, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.[3]
From 1960–61 until 1969–70, teams were awarded three points for a win, two points for a draw and one point for a defeat.[3]
From 1970–71 until 1990–91, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.[4]
Since the 1991–92 season, teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.[5]
In the event that two or more teams have the same amount of points, they are ranked based on:
Points gained in games between the teams, in both rounds.
Goal difference in games between the teams, in both rounds.
Most away goals scored in games between the teams, in both rounds.
Goal difference across all games, in both rounds.
Most goals scored across all games, in both rounds.
The below table indicates the total number of seasons each club has participated in the Cypriot First Division, up to and including the 2025/26 season.[8]
46 teams have played at least one season in the Cypriot First Division.
Çetinkaya's total includes 12 when competing as Lefkosa Turk Spor Kulubu
APEP Pitsilia total includes one as APEP Limassol
All-time Cypriot First Division table (1934–35 until 2024–25)
The All-time Cypriot First Division table is a ranking of all Cypriot football clubs based on their performance in the Cypriot First Division.[9] The points are the sum of the points of all seasons, despite the point system of the season. The 1963–64 Cypriot First Division season is not included because the championship was abandoned.
Liechtenstein is the only UEFA member association without a national league.
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