2020–21 Maltese Challenge League Explained

Season:2020–21
Dates:27 September 2020 – 7 March 2021
Competition:Maltese Challenge League
Matches:159
Total Goals:465
Prevseason:2019–20
Nextseason:2021–22
Updated:11 April 2021
Relegated:Qormi

The 2020–2021 Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons), is the second-level league of football in Malta. This was the first season to take place under the new Challenge League brand. [1]

Following an announcement by Prime Minister Robert Abela, both the Premier League and Challenge League were suspended from 10 March to 11 April 2021 due to the amount of COVID-19 cases increasing in Malta.[2] This was followed by a government decision to extend the suspension, leading to the MFA ending the season prematurely.[3] Due to the season ending without 75% of matches having taken place, both promotion to the Premier League and relegation to the Amateur League (apart from Qormi, who had already been relegated during the season) was suspended until the following season.[4] [5] The following season will have 22 teams split into two groups with the top two clubs earning promotion.[6]

Teams

Fifteen teams competed in the league which included the two teams promoted from the Second Division.[7]

TeamFinishing position last seasonLocationStadiumCapacity
Fgura United9thFguraGudja Ground1,000
Marsa1st in Second Division (promoted)MarsaLuxol Sports Ground800
Marsaxlokk3rd in Second Division (promoted)MarsaxlokkMarsaxlokk Ground1,000
Mqabba14thMqabbaVictor Tedesco Stadium6,000
Naxxar Lions4thNaxxarCentenary Stadium2,000
Pembroke Athleta5thPembrokeLuxol Sports Ground800
Pietà Hotspurs8thPietà
Qormi11thQormiThomaso Ground500
Qrendi3rdQrendiLuxol Sports Ground800
San Ġwann2nd in Second Division (promoted)San ĠwannCentenary Stadium2,000
St. Andrews6thSt. Andrew's, MaltaLuxol Sports Ground800
St. George's13thCospicuaCentenary Stadium2,000
Swieqi United10thSwieqiLuxol Sports Ground800
Vittoriosa Stars12thBirguTony Cassar Sports Ground1,000
Żebbuġ Rangers7thŻebbuġŻebbuġ Ground1,000

League table

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BOV Challenge League . Malta Football Association . 7 February 2021 . 6 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210506125633/https://www.mfa.com.mt/en/leagues/leagues/89/bov-challenge-league.htm . dead .
  2. Web site: All organised sport suspended until April 11 due to rise of COVID-19 cases. SportsDesk. 10 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Żejtun, Tarxien, Lija lament MFA Exco decision over Premier League relegation. SportsDesk . 9 April 2021.
  4. Web site: MFA EXCO step up fight against money laundering and bad practices in Maltese football . 30 April 2021 . Times of Malta . 14 May 2021.
  5. Web site: MFA Exco approve proposals to increase of number of overseas players in matchday squads . 12 May 2021 . Times of Malta . 14 May 2021.
  6. Web site: New format proposed by MFA EXCO for expanded Challenge League . 14 May 2021 . Times of Malta . 14 May 2021.
  7. Web site: 2020–21 BOV Premier League set for exciting start . Malta Football Association . 7 February 2021 .