Football: Belarus's premier league to be cut to 12 teams
The Belarusian football premier league will be reduced down to 12 teams by 2010, the Belarusian Football Federation ruled on April 1.
Federation chairman Genadz Nyavyhlaz said in a statement that in 2009 the league would be cut from 16 to 14 teams and down to 12 by 2010. Three weakest teams will be relegated at the end of the season to be replaced by the winner of the first league, reports Belapan.
In addition, the tournaments in all the leagues will be organized according to the "fall-spring" formula not "spring-fall" as it is now. All the pitches in the premier league will be equipped with new lights and turf heating systems.
Nyavyhlas who is the chief of staff of Lukashenka's administration oversees the tariffs for energy that will be required to warm up the pitches.
Federation chairman Genadz Nyavyhlaz said in a statement that in 2009 the league would be cut from 16 to 14 teams and down to 12 by 2010. Three weakest teams will be relegated at the end of the season to be replaced by the winner of the first league, reports Belapan.
In addition, the tournaments in all the leagues will be organized according to the "fall-spring" formula not "spring-fall" as it is now. All the pitches in the premier league will be equipped with new lights and turf heating systems.
Nyavyhlas who is the chief of staff of Lukashenka's administration oversees the tariffs for energy that will be required to warm up the pitches.
