Qatari Second Division

The Qatari Second Division (Arabic: دوري الدرجة الثانية القطري), QSD or Second Division League, also was known as Qatargas League due to sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of football league competition in Qatar. Contested by 8 teams, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Qatar Stars League (QSL). Seasons of the QSD run from September to April.

Qatari Second Division
Founded1979 (1979)
CountryQatar
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toQatar Stars League
Domestic cup(s)Sheikh Jassem Cup
Current championsAl-Markhiya SC
(2021–22)
Most championshipsAl-Markhiya
(6 titles)
Current: 2022–23 Qatari Second Division

The league's first season was played in 1979 which was won by Al-Ittihad. The club with the most QSD wins is Al-Markhiya which has won 6 QSD titles. According to the league's development strategy, starting with the 2022-23 season, the first-placed club of this league will play a relegation match against the tenth-placed club of the first league to decide which club will participate in the first league next season.[1] There is no relegation from the second division.[2]

History

It was announced on 15 April 2009 that no clubs would be relegated from the top flight in the 2008–09 season, due to expansion reasons, however the announcement was made with only one game remaining.[3] This meant that the Qatari Second Division would remain with the same number of teams despite the recent formation of Lekhwiya SC and El Jaish SC, while the top flight would expand to 12 teams.

On 6 October 2013 it was announced Qatari Second Division had a sponsorship with Qatargas.[4]

Clubs

Champions[5]
Club Champions Winning years
Al-Markhiya 6 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2016–17, 2021–22
Al-Sailiya 4 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2011–12
Al-Gharafa 1979–80, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1986–87
Al-Shamal 3 2002–03, 2014–15, 2020–21
El-Jaish 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
Umm-Salal 1997–98, 1999–20, 2005–06
Al-Kharaitiyat 2 2003–04, 2019–20
Al-Wakrah 1984–85, 2018–19
Al-Rayyan 1988–89, 2014–15
Al-Shahania 1 2017–18
Al-Mesaimeer 2000–01
Al-Khor 1982–83
Al-Ahli 2012–13
Al-Duhail 2009–10
Muaither 2015–16
Al-Nahda 1980–81

2022–23 season
Qatari Second Division
Club Location Stadium Year Formed
Al Bidda SC Doha 2015
Al Kharaitiyat Al Kharaitiyat Al Khor SC Stadium 1996
Al-Khor Al Khor Al-Khor SC Stadium 1961
Al-Mesaimeer Al-Rayyan, Al-Sailiya SC Stadium 1996
Al-Shahania Al-Rayyan, Grand Hamad Stadium 1998
Al-Waab Al Waab, Doha 2019
Lusail Lusail, Al Daayen 2014
Muaither SC Muaither, Al-Rayyan Muaither Sports Club Stadium 1996

Championship history

Total titles won by town or city
Town or city Number of titles Clubs
Al Rayyan
13
 Al-Sailiya SC (4), Al-Gharafa SC (4), Al-Rayyan SC (2), Mesaimeer (1), Muaither SC (1), Al-Shahania (1)
Doha
12
 Al-Markhiya (6), Al-Jaish (3), Lekhwiya SC (1), Al Ahli (1), Al-Nahda (1)
Umm Salal
5
 Umm Salal SC (3), Al Kharaitiyat (2)
Alshammal
3
 Al-Shamal (3)
Al Wakrah
2
 Al-Wakrah SC (2)
Al Khor
1
 Al-Taawun (Al Khor) (1)

Top scorers

References
  1. "Second Division League". Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  2. "Second Division League". Qatar Football Association. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
  3. Q-League expands to 12 Archived May 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Qatargas and QFA Sign 3 Year Sponsorship Agreement". QFA. 6 October 2013. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  5. List of Champions - 2nd Division - QFA Archived May 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (in Arabic)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.