2022–23 Primera Federación (women) explained

Competition:Primera Federación
Season:2022–23
Teams:16 teams
Winners:Barcelona B
Promoted:Eibar
Granada
Relegated:Rayo Vallecano
Granadilla Tenerife B
Real Oviedo
Córdoba
Juan Grande
Prevseason:2021–22
Nextseason:2023–24

The 2022–23 Primera Federación FutFem was the 22nd season of the second highest league tier of women's football in Spain, and the first under that name and using a single group format.

Summary

16 teams took part in the league: 14 from the second tier's previous two-group format under the Segunda División Pro name (7 from each group) and 2 relegated from the previous Primera División (also now renamed, to Liga F), namely three-time national champions Rayo Vallecano who had not been out of the top flight since 2002–03,[1] and Eibar after a two-year spell.

The winners were to be promoted to Liga F automatically and another via play-offs between the 2nd and 5th placed teams. In the event, Barcelona B won the division but were ineligible to be promoted due to being the reserve team of top-tier champions Barcelona. The promotion actions were passed down, with Eibar going up automatically[2] and 6th placed Cacereño entering the play-offs, which were won by Granada for only a second season in the top division in their history after (2013–14).[3]

Five teams (more than the planned usual quota of three due to the intention to reduce the league to 14 participants) were relegated to the third tier Segunda Federación, including Rayo Vallecano who endured a second successive demotion; Athletic Club B escaping by a point on the final match day, finishing with a sequence of five victories having been in one of the bottom four places at the end of every other round of fixtures.[4]

However, Rayo indicated they would seek to have the reduction from 16 to 14 teams cancelled as it was not properly announced by the RFEF, negating their relegation and that of Granadilla Tenerife B. Their appeal to the federation was still awaiting a decision in September 2023 with the new season fast approaching – the clubs publicly expressed their suspicion that their issue had been neglected while the RFEF focused on the Rubiales affair.[5] The new season's fixtures began as scheduled on 9 September without involvement of the appellants, who played their opening matches in the Segunda Federación a day later.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: David Menayo. El Rayo Vallecano consuma su descenso a Segunda división. Rayo Vallecano completes its relegation to the Second Division. Marca. 17 April 2022. 6 September 2023. es.
  2. Web site: David Menayo. El Eibar regresa a Primera tras una temporada en el 'infierno'. Eibar returns to First Division after a season in 'hell'. Marca. 14 May 2023. 6 September 2023. es.
  3. Web site: Maite Caridad. El Granada femenino vuelve a LaLiga F. Granada women's team returns to LaLiga F. Marca . 6 June 2023. 6 September 2023. es.
  4. Web site: Begoña Villarrubia. El histórico Rayo se hunde aún más y desciende por segundo año seguido. The historic Rayo sinks even further and descends for the second year in a row. Mundo Deportivo. 15 May 2023. 6 September 2023. es.
  5. Web site: Aimara Gil. Rayo y Granadilla pide la readmisión en Primera RFEF. Rayo and Granadilla ask for readmission to the First RFEF. Diario AS. 5 September 2023. 6 September 2023. es.