Challenge League (Malta)

Challenge League (Malta) (BOV Challenge League) - the second tier of the Maltese league system administered by the Malta Football Association. Regulations: the competition features 16 clubs and is played in two phases - the First Phase is a single round-robin involving all teams (15 matches each), after which the league splits into two groups of eight for the Second Phase played as another single round-robin within each group, with the Top Eight Round determining the promotion places and the Play-Out Round determining relegation; teams receive 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss, and ties on points are resolved by the association criteria in order - points in head-to-head matches, head-to-head goal difference, head-to-head goals scored, overall goal difference, overall goals scored, then drawing of lots, with deciding matches possible when positions must be formally established for promotion or relegation. At the end of the Second Phase, the top two teams in the Top Eight Round are promoted to the Premier League, while the bottom two teams in the Play-Out Round are relegated to the National Amateur League.