FALE–AFF Football League

The FALE–AFF Football League is the newest-announced format of the Liverpool England Football League.

History

The league is run by the Football Association of Liverpool England in association with the Ad'ihan Football Federation (AFF).

With the re-introduction of the top flight of domestic football in the country, the FALE and AFF also announced two new lower tiers of football to compliment the Liverpool England High League, the First League and Second League.

The new format involves expanding the league from 24 teams to 38 teams. The 38 teams will include two from the Protectorate of Ad'ihan – Protectorate United and Ad'ihan Country. It will also include four others from the Outer Islands and two new teams from the mainland, and the six ex-IAFL teams. A new non-league football system was also announced, with two further tiers below the Second League, which comprises of 24 teams.

'B' and youth teams of League teams are allowed to play in the non-league divisions and cups and be promoted and relegated within the non-league system. However, they cannot be promoted to the league system. Should a team in the Second League have a team in the National Division, and finish the season in the relegation position in the Second League, and their second team in the National Division finish in the promotion spot, the relegation/promotion will not take place, and the team will keep its league status. Furthermore, no team can be in the same tier as their second team. Should a team be relegated to the same tier as their second team, the second team will also be relegated one division regardless of finishing position, with an extra team from the division below being promoted. Should a second team earn promotion to the same division as their parent first team, the promotion will not occur and the next team in line will earn the promotion.

Format

High League

12 teams, each team plays each other thrice. Top six teams and bottom six teams then split, playing each other in their group once. The final table (38 games) does not make a distinction between the two groups; a team that was 7th and won its remaining 5 games would place above a team that was 6th and lost its remaining 5 games, if it has more points.

The bottom two teams are automatically relegated, with the team placing 10th playing off against the loser of the promotion playoff from the First League to defend their High League spot.

This is down from the previous format of two groups of 12 teams in the High League, which saw the top three from each playing off for a promotion spot to the IAFL.

First League

16 teams, each team plays each other twice. Top eight teams and bottom eight teams then split, playing each other in their group once. The final table (37 games) does not make a distinction between the two groups; a team that was 9th and won its remaining 7 games would place above a team that was 8th and lost its remaining 7 games, if it has more points.

The champions are automatically promoted to the High League. Teams from 2nd to 5th playoff for the second promotion spot. The loser of this playoff final plays off against the team finishing 10th in the High League for an additional promotion chance.

The bottom three teams are automatically relegated.

Second League

10 teams. Each team plays each other 4 times, for a total of 36 games.

The top three teams gain promotion, with the last-placed team being relegated out of the league system.

Non-league system

National Division

12 teams split into two groups of six randomly. Games are however played against all 11 other teams in the division, thrice each, for a total of 33 games. The two group winners then play off for promotion into the league system, while the two group losers are all relegated - even if they hold a higher point total than a fourth- or fifth-placed finisher in another group.

Federal Division

12 teams in a division, playing each other 3 times. 33 games, top two promoted.

Cup

The FALE Challenge Cup (FA Cup) has been renamed to the Inter-FA Challenge Cup. All ties in one-leg knockout matches (up to and including Round Four) are settled by a replay (if still tied after 90 minutes of a replay, extra time and penalties are used).

• The following rounds are one-legged (with replay to settle ties): Round One, Round Three, Round Four
• The following rounds are one-legged (with ET/PEN to settle ties): Semi Final, Final
• The following rounds are two-legged (with away goals/ET/PEN to sort ties): All qualifying rounds, Round Two

Qualifying Round One

All 24 non-league teams play a two-leg knockout, with the 12 winners moving on.

Qualifying Round Two

The 12 winners play a two-leg knockout, with the 6 winners moving on.

Qualifying Round Three

The 6 winners from QR Two and the 10 Second League teams play a two-leg knockout, with the 8 winners qualifying.

Round One

Eight qualifiers and 6 of the 14 First League teams play a one-leg knockout, with the 7 winners moving on.

The other eight First League teams, as well as two High League teams, play a one-leg knockout at the same stage, with the 5 winners moving on.

Round Two

The 12 winners from Round One play a two-leg knockout, with the six winners moving on.

Round Three

The 6 winners from Round Two and the remaining ten High League teams play the round-of-16, a one-leg knockout, with the 8 winners moving on.

Round Four

The quarter-finals, a one-leg knockout.

Semi-finals

Played on neutral ground. Extra time and penalties settle the score on the day itself, with no replay.

Final

Played on neutral ground. Extra time and penalties settle the score on the day itself, with no replay.