2021–22 Saudi First Division League

The 2021–22 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) will be the 1st season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 45th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 6 September 2021 and is scheduled to conclude on 29 May 2022.[1][2]

First Division League
Season2021–22
Dates6 September 2021 – 29 May 2022
Matches played140
Goals scored319 (2.28 per match)
Top goalscorerCarolus Andria
(12 goals)
Biggest home winHajer 4–0 Al-Kholood
(7 September 2021)
Al-Shoulla 4–0 Al-Diriyah
(18 October 2021)
Al-Okhdood 4–0 Al-Ain
(2 November 2021)
Biggest away winAl-Qadsiah 0–4 Al-Sahel
(5 October 2021)
Highest scoringAl-Jeel 3–6 Al-Sahel
(14 December 2021)
Longest winning runHajer
(5 matches)
Longest unbeaten runAl-Jeel
Al-Qadsiah
(7 matches)
Longest winless runAl-Nahda
(9 matches)
Longest losing runBisha
(6 matches)
2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 8 December 2021.

Overview

Changes

On 9 October 2020, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the league would be decreased to 18 starting from the 2022–23 season. To prepare for these changes it was announced that 5 teams would be relegated in the 2021–22 season and only 3 teams would be promoted from the 2021–22 Second Division.[3]

Rebrand

On 26 August 2021, the newly appointed executive director of the FDL, Talal Al-Obaidi, announced a rebrand; beginning with the 2021–22 season, the competition would be known as the First Division League (FDL). As part of the rebranding, a new logo was introduced.[4][5]

Name sponsorship

On 1 September 2021, the FDL announced a sponsorship with car rental company Yelo. As part of the sponsorship deal, the First Division League would be known as the Yelo League for the next 3 seasons.[6][7]

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2021–22 season.

Teams

A total of 20 teams are contesting the league, including 13 sides from the 2020–21 season, 4 promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Pro League.

The first club to be relegated to the First Division League was Al-Ain, who were relegated after only a year in the top flight 2–0 defeat away to Al-Nassr on 14 May 2021.[8] In the final matchday, both Al-Qadsiah and Al-Wehda were relegated following a draw with Abha and a loss against Al-Shabab respectively.[9] Al-Qadsiah were relegated after only a year in the top flight while Al-Wehda were relegated after three years in the top flight.

The first club to be promoted was Al-Orobah who were promoted despite a 1–0 away defeat to Afif on 27 March 2021.[10] On 3 April 2021, both Al-Okhdood and Bisha were promoted. Al-Okhdood were promoted following a 1–1 draw with Al-Taqadom while Bisha were promoted following a 2–0 win over Al-Jandal.[11] The final club to be promoted was Al-Kholood, who were promoted following a 3–1 away win over Al-Dahab in the final matchday.[12]

Al-Okhdood defeated Al-Orobah 4–2 on penalties (3–3 after extra time) to win their second title and first since 1992.[13]

Al-Kholood and Bisha will play in the First Division League for the first time in their history. Al-Orobah return after an absence of two seasons and will play in their 13th overall season in the First Division League. Al-Okhdood return to the First Division League for the first time since the 1992–93 season. They will play in their 2nd season in the First Division League.

Stadia and locations

Locations of teams in the 2021–22 First Division League
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-Adalah Al-Hasa (Al-Hulaylah) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Hajer Club Stadium		 26,000[14]
12,000
Al-Ain Al Bahah King Saud Sport City Stadium 10,000[15]
Al-Diriyah Diriyah Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Riyadh) 15,000[16]
Al-Jabalain Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000[17]
Al-Jeel Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Hajer Club Stadium		 26,000
12,000
Al-Kawkab Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200[18]
Al-Khaleej Saihat Al-Khaleej Club Stadium 10,000[19]
Al-Kholood Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium
Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium (Al Bukayriyah)		 8,000[20]
5,000
Al-Nahda Dammam Prince Fahd bin Salman Stadium
Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium		 15,000[21]
35,000
Al-Okhdood Najran Prince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium
Najran University Stadium		 12,000[22]
10,000[23]
Al-Orobah Sakakah Al-Orobah Club Stadium 6,000[24]
Al-Qadsiah Khobar Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium 15,000[25]
Al-Sahel Anak Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar) 15,000
Al-Shoulla Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200
Al-Wehda Mecca King Abdul Aziz Stadium 38,000
Bisha Bisha Bisha University Stadium
King Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah)		 2,000
10,000
Hajer Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Hajer Club Stadium
Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium		 12,000[26]
26,000
Jeddah Jeddah Reserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City 1,000[27]
Najran Najran Prince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium
Najran University Stadium		 12,000
10,000
Ohod Medina Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 24,000[28]

Foreign players

On 26 June 2021, the Saudi FF announced that the number of foreign players was increased from 4 players to 5 players.[29]

Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Former Players
Al-Adalah Alan Nailson Ibrahima Tandia Tunde Adeniji Achraf Krir
Al-Ain Othman Alhaj Othman Hassan Reuben Gabriel Juanpi
Al-Diriyah Hacène Ogbi Gelson Wesley Marius Obekop Ibrahim Salis
Al-Jabalain Jefferson Rogerinho Teco Tiago Orobó Ricardo Ribeiro
Al-Jeel Romarinho Faisal Abu Bakr Ahmad Al Douni Abdullah Jenyat Aymen Trabelsi
Al-Kawkab Franck Julienne Badreddine Benachour Falou Samb Hamza Ben Abda Oussema Ben Ayed
Al-Khaleej Diego Miranda Mamadou Soro Samuel Sarfo Miodrag Gemović Mondher Guesmi
Al-Kholood Sid Ahmed Aouadj Islam Chahrour Mohamed Salem Dianos Prince Obus Aggreh Khemais Maaouani
Al-Nahda Michael Sarpong Ifeanyi Anaemena Abdulaziz Noor Fehmi Kacem Bilel Souissi
Al-Okhdood Hugo Cabral Kaká Mendes Maicon Douglas Reinaldo Dutra Taylon Correa
Al-Orobah Rayllan Bruno Philipe Maia Héldon Ramos Aboubacar Diarra Abdoulaye Dieng
Al-Qadsiah Carlão Leandro Carvalho Muralha Ibrahim Diomandé Uroš Vitas
Al-Sahel Jhonnattann Benites Uilliam Victor Lawson Bekui Daniel Ajibola
Al-Shoulla Pitty Sylla Daouda Mario Budimir Piqueti Salem Ali
Al-Wehda Ahmed Abdu Jaber Alberto Botía
Bisha Kaddour Beldjilali Elvis Rupia Seifeddine Akremi Mohamed Ben Tarcha Saith Sakala
Hajer Adriano Pardal Fernando Gabriel Lázaro Ismail Kouakou Modibo Maïga
Jeddah Breno Halef Pitbull Emanuel Novo Ally Niyonzima Alaeddine Bouslimi
Najran Carlos Henrique Rafael Costa Izaka Aboudou Borhen Hkimi Oussema Boughanmi Seifeddine Jerbi
Ohod Sofiane Khelili Carolus Andria Zakaria Lahlali Ouday Belhaj Mourad Hedhli

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Khaleej 15 8 4 3 26 16 +10 28 Promotion to the Pro League
2 Al-Adalah 15 8 4 3 18 13 +5 28
3 Hajer 15 7 3 5 21 13 +8 24
4 Ohod 15 7 5 3 27 17 +10 26
5 Al-Sahel 15 7 4 4 27 20 +7 25
6 Al-Shoulla 14 5 6 3 18 11 +7 21
7 Al-Okhdood 14 6 3 5 19 18 +1 21
8 Al-Wehda 15 6 5 4 16 14 +2 23
9 Al-Qadsiah 14 4 7 3 16 14 +2 19
10 Jeddah 15 5 4 6 16 17 −1 19
11 Al-Orobah 15 5 5 5 17 17 0 20
12 Al-Kawkab 15 4 6 5 15 15 0 18
13 Al-Jabalain 15 6 3 6 17 18 −1 21
14 Al-Diriyah 15 5 3 7 18 28 −10 18
15 Najran 14 4 5 5 11 11 0 17
16 Al-Jeel 15 2 9 4 13 19 −6 15 Relegation to the Second Division
17 Al-Kholood 14 4 3 7 15 20 −5 15
18 Al-Nahda 15 3 7 5 14 20 −6 16
19 Bisha 15 3 1 11 11 22 −11 10[lower-alpha 1]
20 Al-Ain 14 1 7 6 10 22 −12 10[lower-alpha 1]
Updated to match(es) played on 14 December 2021. Source: goalzz.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Fair-play points (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[31]
Notes:
  1. Bisha were awarded a 3–0 win over Al-Ain due to Al-Ain's inability to hold the fixture.[30]

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
Al-Adalah41111221112222
Al-Ain1416192018171719202020201920
Al-Diriyah33511571189101071214
Al-Jabalain1918141513597556101413
Al-Jeel106798101014171515151516
Al-Kawkab161918141611711101213111312
Al-Khaleej75232112233111
Al-Kholood2020201719192020181919161617
Al-Nahda13812711131515151817181818
Al-Okhdood1811161820201913867977
Al-Orobah5121157463789141111
Al-Qadsiah1215104101214171313121399
Al-Sahel914171915812161614141285
Al-Shoulla813624645445546
Al-Wehda22483334674468
Bisha1510131617181812141718192019
Hajer19912121586321333
Jeddah171715109141310129861010
Najran11781314161618191616171715
Ohod64366959111111854
Leader
Promotion to the Pro League
Relegation to the Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 8 December 2021. Source:

Results
Home \ Away ADA AIN DIR JAB JEL KAW KHJ KHO NAH OKH ORO QAD SAH SHO WHD BIS HJR JED NAJ OHD
Al-Adalah 3–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–1
Al-Ain 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–4
Al-Diriyah 3–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–0 0–2 2–4 1–1
Al-Jabalain 1–2 1–0 1–2 0–0 2–1 2–0 0–3
Al-Jeel 0–0 3–2 0–1 1–0 3–6 0–0 0–0 2–2
Al-Kawkab 3–2 2–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 0–1
Al-Khaleej 1–1 1–0 5–2 3–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–0
Al-Kholood 1–2 3–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 0–0
Al-Nahda 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–0 2–1
Al-Okhdood 0–0 4–0 2–3 3–1 1–0 2–1
Al-Orobah 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 1–1 1–2 1–3
Al-Qadsiah 1–1 1–2 0–0 3–1 0–4 2–1 3–0
Al-Sahel 1–0 3–1 1–3 0–1 2–1 1–4 2–1
Al-Shoulla 4–0 0–0 3–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–1
Al-Wehda 1–3 1–2 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–1
Bisha 2–3 3–0[32] 0–2 1–0 1–3 0–1 0–1
Hajer 2–0 1–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 0–0
Jeddah 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 4–1
Najran 2–0 0–1 2–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–2 1–1
Ohod 2–1 3–2 0–1 1–1 2–2 1–2 2–0 1–2
Updated to match(es) played on 14 December 2021. Source: goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics
As of 8 December 2021
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