Azadegan League (Iran)

Azadegan League (Iran) (Azadegan League, League 1) - the second tier of Iran’s professional club league system, organised by the Iran Football League Organization under FFIRI. Regulations: the competition is played as a league, typically with 18 clubs, in a double round-robin home and away season, awarding 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. If teams are level on points, the ranking is determined by head-to-head criteria applied through a mini-table among the tied teams, in order head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference and head-to-head goals scored, with no away-goals rule applied in head-to-head comparisons. If teams remain level, overall goal difference and overall goals scored are applied next, followed by fair play based on disciplinary records, after which a neutral-venue play-off match may be used for promotion or relegation decisions, while a draw of lots may be used where multiple teams remain fully level. At season end, the top two clubs are typically promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League and the bottom three are relegated to Iran League 2. Direct AFC qualification is generally not awarded from this tier and is normally reached via promotion to the top division.