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| Founded | 1991; 34 years ago (1991) |
|---|---|
| Country | Lithuania |
| Number of clubs | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | A Lyga |
| Relegation to | II Lyga |
| Current champions | FK Riteriai (1st title) (2024) |
| Broadcaster(s) | futbolas.tv |
| Website | www |
| Current:2025 I Lyga | |
TheLFF Pirma Lyga,TOPsport Pirma Lyga, orPirma Lyga, is the second tier of professionalLithuanian football championship.
Organized by theLithuanian Football Federation (LFF), I Lyga is contested by 16 teams, with the top team gainingpromotion toA Lyga and replaced by the lowest-placed team in top division. The second-placed team qualifies to a promotion play-off with A Lyga's second to last team. Bottom 2 clubs are relegated to theII Lyga, and 3rd last team plays a play-off with the 3rd placed team in II Lyga. The final list of participants often does not correlate to the final results of the previous season, as the participation is finalized through theLithuanian Football Federation league licensing process. Number of participants also fluctuate due to frequent club collapses.
There were 15 teams competing in the 2017 season. At the end of this season, three teams withdrew from the league.
In 2018, there were 14 teams that started the championship. However,FK Koralas Klaipėda withdrew in the mid-season. After the end of the season, two more teams have withdrawn from participation in the next season.
The 2019 season saw 16 teams starting the championship. In JuneFC Stumbras ran into financial difficulties, its license was withdrawn from the A Lyga, along withStumbras B license in the I Lyga. In July Stumbras B was removed from the league, with all results annulled as the team played less than half of all season games. At the end of the season I Lyga sideFC Kupiškis was found to be involved in match-fixing, and subsequently fined and demoted toII Lyga.
Although the 2019 I Lyga winnersFC Džiugas Telšiai won promotion to A lyga, the club failed to meet2020 A Lyga licensing criteria, and had their promotion was forfeited. OnlyFK Banga Gargždai had advanced to A Lyga.
The 2020 season was affected by theCOVID-19 pandemic, and was shortened to 1.5 rounds. 14 teams participated in the tournament, with four teams offered promotion to A Lyga.
2021 season ran in full despite someCOVID-19 threats. As four teams advanced to the A Lyga, and one club withdrew, five teams joined from the II Lyga. Previous season winnerFK Jonava were denied A Lyga license because of allegations of match-fixing. The league consisted of 14 teams, with an expectation to expand the league to 16 the next season.
2022 season featured stable 16 team tournament and a fierce fight for the promotion to A lyga. Eventually,DFK Dainava secured the promotion, returning to A lyga after one season.
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| League system |
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