West Bank Premier League
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West Bank Premier League is one of the two top divisions of the Palestinian Football Federation. The other is the Gaza Strip League. Palestinian clubs have a rich history stretching back to the early 1930s but most teams folded due to the political turmoil that ensued. The League has existed in the West Bank since 1977 but due to the difficulties associated with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and internal feuding within the Palestinian Football Federation only seven seasons have been played in their entirety. Over the years, the format of the League has taken many different shapes. The league has been uninterrupted since 2008. The 2010-11 Season marked the creation of the first professional league in the territories and saw high profile signings for many clubs. Most notably Fadi Lafi (Hilal Al-Quds), Hernan Madrid (Wadi Al-Nes), and many Arab-Israelis who played for teams in the second and third tier of Israeli football.
The original format of the WBPL consisted of 12 teams playing each other twice over 22 matchdays, the bottom two clubs are relegated to the second division and the team with the most points are crowned champions.[1] Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari won the inaugural season beating out Hilal Al-Quds on goal differential.
The 2011-12 will include only 10 teams but the PFA have announced that four teams will be promoted from the First Division returning the league to its traditional 12-team format. The PFA also altered the rules on player eligibility banning the use of foreign players but letting teams have an unlimited amount of Palestinian citizens of Israel in their squads.
[edit] Before professionalization
- In 1977, Silwan won a five-team league on 28 points ahead of Al-Arabi Beit Safafa, YMCA, Al-Bireh Group, and Shabab Al-Khaleel
- In 1982, Shabab Al-Khaleel won a 24-team league on 81 points five points ahead of closest challengers YMCA
- In 1984, Merkaz Tulkarem won a 12-team league on 60 points one point ahead of closest challengers Hateen
- In 1985-85, Shabab Al-Khaleel won their second league title, the league once again featured 12 teams. Shabab Al-Khaleel finished on 60 points, six ahead of Thaqafi Tulkarem
- In 1997, Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari won their first league title on 64 points, the league featured 16 teams, Thaqafi Tulkarem finished as runner-up on 53 points
- In 2008/09, Tarji Wadi Al-Nes won a 22-team league that would determine the members of the First and Second Division. They collected 49 points from 21 games.
- In 2009/10 Jabal Al-Mukaber won a 12-team league, the last before the PFA instituted a professional set-up. They collected 49 points from 22 games, 7 more than their closest challengers Hilal Al-Quds
[edit] Clubs 2011/12
[edit] Past champions
Until 2008 only 5 seasons were played out. The winners were:[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Football in Palestine
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† Provisional Associated Member
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2011–12 season
