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 2020 – 2021 |
| Matches played | 36 |
| Goals scored | 80 (2.22 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Fadel Antar (7 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Ali Hallal Mostafa Matar Nazih Assaad Ali Daher (3 clean sheets) |
| Biggest win | Shabab Sahel 5–0 Safa (18 September 2021) Nejmeh 5–0 Shabab Bourj (26 September 2021) |
| Highest scoring | Shabab Sahel 5–0 Safa (18 September 2021) Shabab Sahel 4–1 Tripoli (25 September 2021) Nejmeh 5–0 Shabab Bourj (26 September 2021) Tadamon Sour 4–1 AC Sporting (18 October 2021) |
| Total attendance | 0[lower-alpha 1] |
← 2020–21 2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 21 November 2021. | |
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 are allowed to play in the league.[2]
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.[3] 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.[3]
The top six teams play against each other once,[2] with the champion automatically qualifying to the 2023 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs—assuming they meet the criteria set by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).[4] The runners-up instead directly qualify to the 2023 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 once, with the bottom two teams being relegated to the Lebanese Second Division.[2]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC Sporting | Beirut (Ras Beirut) | Rafic Hariri Stadium[note 1] | 5,000 |
| 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 |
| Tadamon Sour | Tyre | Sour Municipal Stadium | 6,500 |
| Tripoli | Tripoli | Tripoli Municipal Stadium | 22,000 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahed | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 16 | Qualification for AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs |
| 2 | Shabab Sahel | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 3 | +11 | 14 | Qualification for AFC Cup group stage |
| 3 | Nejmeh | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 12 | Standby team for AFC Cup group stage |
| 4 | Bourj | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 8 | |
| 5 | Ansar | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 8 | |
| 6 | Tripoli | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 7 | |
| 7 | Akhaa Ahli Aley | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 7 | |
| 8 | Sagesse | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 6 | |
| 9 | Safa | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 6 | |
| 10 | Tadamon Sour | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 6 | |
| 11 | Shabab Bourj | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 5 | Relegation to Lebanese Second Division |
| 12 | AC Sporting | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 1 |
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:
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon, all games are being played behind closed doors.
- Teams play each other once (11 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
Season statistics
- As of match played 21 November 2021[5]
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fadel Antar |
Shabab Sahel | 7 |
| 2 | Mohamad Kdouh |
Ahed | 5 |
| 3 | Adnan Melhem |
Tadamon Sour | 4 |
| 4 | Mohammad Al Massri |
Akhaa Ahli Aley | 3 |
| Hassan Mehanna |
Bourj | ||
| Khaled Takaji |
Nejmeh | ||
| Mahmoud Siblini |
Nejmeh |
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fadel Antar | Shabab Sahel | Safa | 5–0[6] | 18 September 2021 |
| Fadel Antar4 | Shabab Sahel | Tripoli | 4–1[7] | 25 September 2021 |
- Notes
4 Player scored 4 goals
Most assists
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fadel Antar |
Shabab Sahel | 3 |
| 2 | Khalil Bader |
Nejmeh | 2 |
 Adnan Salloum |
Tadamon Sour | ||
| Ahmad Hijazi |
Ansar | ||
| Mohamad Jaafar |
Shabab Sahel | ||
| Hassan Maatouk |
Ansar | ||
| Mohamad Kdouh |
Ahed |
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ali Hallal |
Nejmeh | 3 |
| Mostafa Matar |
Ahed | ||
| Nazih Assaad |
Ansar | ||
| Ali Daher |
Shabab Sahel | ||
| 5 | Omar Idlibi |
Safa | 2 |
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.
- "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.
- "2021–22 First Division". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- "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.
