Oberliga - Baden-Württemberg (Germany)

Oberliga Baden-Württemberg (OLBW) - a fifth-tier men’s league in the German football pyramid and the top state-level league of Baden-Württemberg, operated by OLBW Oberliga Baden-Württemberg gGmbH with the involvement of three regional associations - Badischer Fußballverband (bfv), Südbadischer Fußballverband (SBFV) and Württembergischer Fußballverband (wfv). Regulations: the competition is generally played with 18 clubs in a double round-robin format, awarding 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss, and ties on points are broken in order by goal difference, goals scored, aggregate score across the two head-to-head matches, away goals in the head-to-head matches, total away goals, and if still level the ranking is decided via decision match or matches; where a tied position carries a special consequence such as promotion or relegation, decision matches are played on a neutral venue with extra time and, if needed, penalties, with specific formats depending on whether 2, 3, 4 or 5+ teams are level. Promotion to the Regionalliga Südwest depends on the upper-league organiser’s rules and admission process and requires passing the Regionalliga Südwest licensing procedure, typically the champion is sportingly qualified subject to meeting admission requirements, and any additional promotion place, if provided, is decided via a separate promotion round between high-placed teams. Relegation is typically the bottom four clubs into the respective top association leagues - Verbandsliga Baden, Verbandsliga Südbaden and Verbandsliga Württemberg - with the number of relegated teams adjusted as needed to restore the standard 18-team league, capped at six. The league is typically replenished by four promoted teams, with three spots for the champions of the three top association leagues, and a fourth spot decided via playoffs among runners-up: Baden and Südbaden runners-up play a two-leg tie, whose winner then plays a two-leg tie against the Württemberg runners-up, and if level on aggregate extra time is played in the second leg followed by penalties if required.