V&I Topplig

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Current logo of the Vuam and Isma Topplig

The Vuam and Isma Topplig (which, for sponsorship/legal reasons, is often referred to as the Topplig M.A.L.P. in Vuam and Isma and the M.A.L.P. Vuam and Isma Topplig internationally) is a league competiton for Vuami and Ismian professional football clubs located at the top of the Vuam and Isma football league system (above the Vuam and Isma Eredivie), making it Vuam and Isma's primary football competition.

Overview

The Topplig comprises the top 20 football clubs in the Vuam and Isma football league system of Vuami and Ismian football. It was created in 2006, when the Vuam and Isma Championna football clubs broke away from the New Cyberia footballing tutelage after divergences over the need of a salary cap. Whilst the Championna was competed on a yearly basis, the Topplig is played as 'Seasons', and there is no fixed duration for a Season. However, once a season has been started, the clubs may not change the fixture dates that have been handed to them.

A total of 68 teams seceded from the Championna, and chose to play in 3 leagues instead of 4, major changes being the removal of the cup tournament to choose the National Champion that was played between the top 4 clubs of each of the 4 Championna leagues (E, Bi, Ter, and Quave), to replace it by automatic attribution to the winner of the highest of the three leagues, the Topplig. Also, instead of a cup tournament to decide of the teams that were relegated, involving the bottom 4 of each Championna league, the clubs opted for automatic promotion, automatic relegation and promotion playoffs.

The competition

There are 20 clubs in the Topplig. During the course of a season each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents for a total of 38 games for each club, and a total of 380 games in a Topplig season. At the end of each season the three lowest placed teams are relegated into the Eredivie and the top two teams from the Eredivie, together with the winner of a play-off involving the 3rd to 6th placed clubs, are promoted in their place.

The Topplig champion qualifies for the New Cyberia Champion's Trial second qualifying round (at least 18 games from the final). The team placed second enters the New Cyberia Regional Cup at the second qualifying round (at least 14 games from the final). However, if the winner of the Vuam and Isma Club's Cup is one of the top two, then the New Cyberia Regional Cup first qualifying round entry that victory in the cup awards is handed to the losing finalist. On the other hand, if the winner of the Vuam and Isma Football Trophy is in the top 2, then the New Cyberia Champion's Trial first qualifying round place is awarded to the team placed second in the Topplig, and the New Cyberia Regional Cup second qualifying round place is transferred to the third in the Topplig.

Final league position is determined firstly by points obtained, then by goal difference, then goals scored, then goal average, and if necessary, a mini-league of the results between two or more teams ranked using the previous three criteria and finally a series of one or more play off matches.

Sponsorship

Since 2006, the Vuam and Isma Topplig has been sponsored. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. However, the sponsor must include the word "Topplig" in the name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:

• 2006–Current: M.A.L.P Corporation (Topplig M.A.L.P)

Foreign player rulings

The Vuam and Isma Topplig has sevral eligibility factors that concern foreign players:

• A player that is not a Vuam and Isma national requires a work permit to be eligible for any match in the Topplig.
• Clubs competing in the Topplig may not contract a player that is not a Vuam and Isma national unless the player is over 16, and has recieved a work permit from the competent Vuam and Isma authorities.

Broadcasting rights

The Vuam and Isma Topplig negociates each season contracts with television companies, newspapers, radio stations and websites to determine the duration of each "media-exclusive" duration. Whilst the average television exclusivity is 48 hours after the end of the match (generally the longest in any media), medias have longer or shorter exclusivity deals, the shortest being the internet exclusivity, usually 15 minutes.

Topplig Customs

In the Topplig, each club must choose a home and away kit for each season. However, clubs have the right, if the opposing club aggrees, to play in another kit, and even change kit at half-time. This often leads to confusion for those who are not familiar with the teams and the styles of play each team uses. However, most clubs will only change kit for exceptional events, such as anniversaries of the club.

Topplig clubs, Season 1