Ligat Ha'Al set for revamp

From 2009/10 the Ligat Ha'Al will be expanded to 16 teams who will play each other twice on a home and away basis following a vote by the Israel Football Association (IFA).

New structure
The league's 12 clubs currently play one another three times but the ballot by IFA's management will result in a complete overhaul of the system. Aside from the expanded top flight, the National Division – Israel's second tier – will also comprise 16 teams, while 32 will play in the A Divisions.

League split
At the end of the 2008/09 campaign, five clubs will be promoted to the élite, with the bottom side relegated to the National Division. The team which finishes eleventh in Ligat Ha'Al will then face the second-tier's sixth-place side in a play-off for a place in the top flight. After 30 matches of the new format, the league will split, with teams playing matches against the other clubs in their section.