The 2022–23 Iraqi First Division League was the 49th season of what is now called the Iraqi Premier Division League, the second tier of the Iraqi football league system, since its establishment in 1974. The number of clubs in the league have varied throughout history for various reasons. The top two teams are promoted to the Iraq Stars League, while the bottom two teams in each group are directly relegated to the Iraqi Second Division League.[1]
In the last round of the league, in the Group 1, Amanat Baghdad was able to topped the group after achieving 38 points, while in the Group 2, Al-Minaa topped the group after achieving 46 points. Both teams were promoted to the Stars League,[2][3] and it was decided that the final match between the two teams will be held in Baghdad on May 26, 2023 to determine the league champion.[4][5] The Al-Minaa administration demanded that the match be transferred to Basra due to the large number of fans of the Al-Minaa, so that the match would be more attended,[6] and the Amanat Baghdad administration agreed to that.[7] Later, the Football Association decided that the match would be held on 2 June in Al-Fayhaa Stadium.[8]
In the final, Al-Minaa was able to defeat Amanat Baghdad, 2–1, and win the title. The goals of Al-Minaa were scored by Sajjad Alaa (6') and Salem Ahmed (37'), while the goal of Amanat Baghdad was scored by Karrar Ali Bari (53').[9][10]
Al-Jinsiya (who withdrew from the start) and Al-Hawija from Group 1, and Al-Sulaikh and Al-Samawa from Group 2 were relegated to the Iraqi Second Division League after finishing in the bottom positions in the standings.[11]
Team changes
The following teams have changed division since the 2021–22 season:
In November 2020, The Iraq FA announced that the number of teams will decrease from 28 to 24 in total starting from 2021-2022 season. To make these changes possible, the Iraq FA announced that in 2022–23 season, a two teams are promoted to the Premier League, where the winner and runner-up of each group will play a play-off match, so that the winners will be promoted directly to the Premier League, while 6 teams in total are directly relegated to Second Division League.[12]
On April 8, 2023, the promotion and relegation mechanism was changed, and the Football Association announced the promotion of the winning team in each group directly to the Premier League, and the relegation of the last two teams in the standings in each group to the Second Division League, as a result, two teams are promote and 4 teams are relegate.[13][14]
Developments
On December 27, 2022, the Iraq Football Association decided to stop the championship matches, starting from the ninth round, due to the holding of the Arabian Gulf Cup in Iraq, and decided that the championship would resume after the end of the Arabian Gulf Cup.[15][16] Indeed, the ninth round of the championship resumed on January 18, 2023.[17]
Teams
A total of 24 teams are contesting the league, including 17 sides from the 2021–22 season and the 3 relegated sides from the Iraqi Premier League and the 4 promoted sides from the Iraqi Second Division League, because of the recent changes necessary to adjustment to having 24 teams possible this season. The teams were divided into two groups, and the draw was held on October 27, 2022,[18][19] and it was decided that the championship will start on November 18, 2022.[20]
Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2023. Source: IFA official website Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of wins; 6) number of goals scored. (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes:
^ abAl-Ramadi finished ahead of Maysan on head-to-head points: Al-Ramadi 2–0 Maysan, Maysan 1–0 Al-Ramadi.
^ abSamarra finished ahead of Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya on head-to-head points: Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya 0–0 Samarra, Samarra 2–1 Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya.
^The Samarra–Masafi Al-Junoob match was awarded as a 3–0 win to Samarra, as Masafi Al-Junoob involved an unregistered player for the team in the game,[21] and the actual match score was a 1-1 draw.[22]
Updated to match(es) played on 2 May 2023. Source: IFA official website Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of wins; 6) number of goals scored. (C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes:
^ abcAfak finished ahead of Al-Hussein, and Al-Hussein finished ahead of Al-Shirqat, on head-to-head points: Afak 7, Al-Hussein 5, Al-Shirqat 4.
Updated to match(es) played on 2 May 2023. Source: IFA official website Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. Notes:
^The Afak–Al-Nasiriya match was awarded as a 3–0 win to Afak, as Al-Nasiriya fans rioted.[23]
^The Al-Hussein–Al-Shirqat match was awarded as a 3–0 win to Al-Hussein, as Al-Shirqat involved an unregistered player for the team in the game,[24] and the actual result of the match was a 1–2 victory for Al-Shirqat.[25]
^The Al-Jolan–Al-Muroor match was awarded as a 3–0 win to Al-Jolan, as Al-Muroor withdraw from the game.[26]
^The Al-Samawa–Al-Jolan match was awarded as a 0–3 win to Al-Jolan, as Al-Samawa involved an unregistered player for the team in the game, and the actual result of the match was a 3–2 victory for Al-Samawa.[21] However, the appeals committee later overturned the ruling, reinstating the actual result.[27]
