2021–22 Lebanese Premier League
The 2021–22 Lebanese Premier League is the 60th season of the Lebanese Premier League, the top Lebanese professional league for association football clubs since its establishment in 1934. The league started on 11 September 2021.
| Season | 2021–22 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 11 September 2021 – 5 May 2022 |
| Matches played | 84 |
| Goals scored | 189 (2.25 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Fadel Antar (10 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Mostafa Matar (10 clean sheets) |
| Biggest win | Shabab Bourj 6–0 Sagesse (9 January 2022) Shabab Sahel 0–6 Ansar (10 March 2022) |
| Highest scoring | Shabab Bourj 6–0 Sagesse (9 January 2022) Shabab Sahel 0–6 Ansar (10 March 2022) |
← 2020–21 2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 20 March 2022. | |
It is the second season to feature a "split" format, following its introduction in the 2020–21 season, where the season is divided into two phases. Ansar are the defending champions, having won their 14th title in 2020–21.
Summary
Regulations
Each club has to involve one player under the age of 22 for at least 600 minutes, two players for at least 800 combined minutes, and three players for at least 1,200 combined minutes.[1] Also, each club is allowed a maximum of eight players over the age of 30, with only five being able to be fielded in a game.[1] In case a club is to not meet the required number of minutes at the end of the season, they will have three points deducted from their total in the league.[1]
Due to the economic situation in Lebanon, no foreign players were allowed to play in the league in the first half of the season.[2] In the second half, teams were allowed to contract one foreign player, for the first time since October 2019.[3]
Format
Following its introduction in the 2020–21 season, the 2021–22 season consists of two phases: in the first phase, each team plays against one another once.[2] In the second phase, the 12 teams are divided into two groups based on their position in the first phase; the teams carry over their point tally from the first phase.[4] After the first phase is completed, clubs can not move out of their own half in the league, even if they achieve more or fewer points than a higher or lower ranked team, respectively.[4]
The top six teams play against each other twice, as opposed to the previous season where they played each other once;[2] the champion automatically qualify to the 2023–24 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs—assuming they meet the criteria set by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).[5] The runners-up instead directly qualify to the 2023–24 AFC Cup group stage—as long as the champions meet the AFC criteria for the AFC Champions League.[2] The bottom six teams also play against each other twice, with the bottom two teams being relegated to the Lebanese Second Division.[2]
Events
Following Nejmeh's refusal to play Ahed on 9 January 2022, the Lebanese Football Association decided to assign a 3–0 walkover to Ahed, deducted 6 points from Nejmeh, and fined them LL10 million.[6] Nejmeh's decision not to play came as a form of protest against the refereeing in their game against Tadamon Sour one week prior.[6]
Teams
Twelve teams compete in the league – the top ten teams from the 2020–21 Lebanese Premier League season and the two teams promoted from the Lebanese Second Division.
Stadiums and locations
Prior to the start of each season, every team choose two stadiums as their home venues. In case both stadiums are unavailable for a certain matchday, another venue was used.
- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahed | Beirut (Ouzai) | Ahed Stadium[note 1] | 2,000 |
| Akhaa Ahli Aley | Aley | Amin AbdelNour Stadium | 3,500 |
| Ansar | Beirut (Tariq El Jdideh) | Ansar Stadium[note 1] | N/A |
| Bourj | Beirut (Bourj el-Barajneh) | Bourj el-Barajneh Stadium[note 1] | 1,500 |
| Nejmeh | Beirut (Ras Beirut) | Rafic Hariri Stadium[note 1] | 5,000 |
| Safa | Beirut (Wata El-Museitbeh) | Safa Stadium[note 1] | 4,000 |
| Sagesse | Beirut (Achrafieh) | ||
| Shabab Bourj | Beirut (Bourj el-Barajneh) | Bourj el-Barajneh Stadium[note 1] | 1,500 |
| Shabab Sahel | Beirut (Haret Hreik) | Shabab Al Sahel Stadium[note 1] | N/A |
| Sporting | Beirut (Ras Beirut) | Rafic Hariri Stadium[note 1] | 5,000 |
| Tadamon Sour | Tyre | Sour Municipal Stadium | 6,500 |
| Tripoli | Tripoli | Tripoli Municipal Stadium | 22,000 |
Foreign players
Lebanese clubs were allowed to contract a foreign player for the second half of the season.[3]
| Team | Player |
|---|---|
| Ahed |  Ahmed Akaïchi |
| Akhaa Ahli Aley |  Dennis Tetteh |
| Ansar |  Ichaka Diarra |
| Bourj |  Bersyl Obassi |
| Nejmeh |  Pedro Kadri |
| Safa | Nicholas Cofie |
| Sagesse |  Boucounta Sarr |
| Shabab Bourj | |
| Shabab Sahel |  Christian Obiozor |
| Sporting |  Junior Mala |
| Tadamon Sour | |
| Tripoli | Joseph Ansah |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahed | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 3 | +22 | 36 | Qualification for AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs |
| 2 | Bourj | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 6 | +13 | 32 | Qualification for AFC Cup group stage |
| 3 | Shabab Sahel | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 23 | Standby team for AFC Cup group stage |
| 4 | Ansar | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 11 | +13 | 22 | |
| 5 | Tadamon Sour | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 14 | −2 | 14 | |
| 6 | Shabab Bourj | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 25 | −9 | 14 | |
| 7 | Tripoli | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 23 | |
| 8 | Nejmeh[lower-alpha 2] | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 9 | +10 | 18 | |
| 9 | Akhaa Ahli Aley | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 12 | |
| 10 | Sporting | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 20 | −9 | 11 | |
| 11 | Sagesse | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 26 | −19 | 11 | Relegation to Lebanese Second Division |
| 12 | Safa | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 20 | −15 | 10 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Draw.
Notes:
- Teams play each other once (11 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
- Nejmeh forfeited in matchday 9 and were deducted 6 points.
Season statistics
- As of match played 20 March 2022[7]
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fadel Antar |
Shabab Sahel | 10 |
| 2 | Mahmoud Siblini |
Nejmeh | 7 |
| 3 | Mohamad Kdouh |
Ahed | 6 |
| 4 | Ahmad Hijazi |
Ansar | 5 |
| Karim Darwich |
Ansar |
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fadel Antar | Shabab Sahel | Safa | 5–0[8] | 18 September 2021 |
| Fadel Antar4 | Shabab Sahel | Tripoli | 4–1[9] | 25 September 2021 |
| Mahmoud Siblini | Nejmeh | Akhaa Ahli Aley | 3–0[10] | 11 March 2022 |
- Notes
4 Player scored 4 goals
Most assists
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamad Jaafar |
Shabab Sahel | 7 |
| 2 | Ahmad Hijazi |
Ansar | 4 |
| Fadel Antar |
Shabab Sahel | ||
| Hassan Maatouk |
Ansar |
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mostafa Matar |
Ahed | 10 |
| 2 | Nazih Assaad |
Ansar | 7 |
| Hassan Moghnieh |
Bourj | ||
| 4 | Ali Sabeh |
Nejmeh | 6 |
| 5 | Ahmad Korhani |
Tripoli | 5 |
| 3 | Omar Idlibi |
Safa | 4 |
| Shaker Wehbe |
Akhaa Ahli Aley |
Notes
- Only used as a training ground
References
- "الاتحاد اللبناني يعلن عن قرارات حاسمة". كووورة. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- Abou Diab, Rami (25 June 2020). "The new regulations for the Lebanese Premier League". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- "10 أندية تستعين بالأجانب قبل استئناف الدوري اللبناني". كووورة. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- "هل يُمكن أن يُحسم اللقب قبل الدورة السداسية؟". lebanonfg.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- Abdallah, Rakan (1 August 2020). "What are the criteria for a Lebanese club to play in the Champions League?". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- "الاتحاد اللبناني يخسّر النجمة أمام العهد ويغرمه". كووورة. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- "Lebanese First Division 2021/2022". Global Sports Archive. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- "Shabab Al Sahel FC vs Safa SC". FA Lebanon. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- "Shabab Al Sahel FC vs AC Tripoli". FA Lebanon. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- "Match Report of Al Akhaa Al Ahli SC Aley vs Nejmeh SC - 2022-03-11 - Lebanese First Division - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 12 March 2022.