Kelssek Football League
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The Kelssek Football League (French: Ligue kelssekien de football) is a professional association football league in Kelssek governed by the national football association, Football Kelssek. Formed in 1963, it is the highest-level football league in Kelssek, which is not really saying much. While it is counted as one of the country's four main professional sports leagues, it suffers from the sport's secondary status in Kelssek, at least in comparison to leagues of other nations where football is the number one sport, as well as a terrible logo.
The league's eighteen teams play against each other home and away once per season, a total of 34 games each. The season runs from March to November. The highest-ranking team at the conclusion of the season wins the league championship.
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Football in Kelssek
The KFL is the only professional football competition in Kelssek. The league functions independently from the semi-professional to amateur Kelssek National Football League, also administered by Football Kelssek, and although plans for a promotion and relegation system have been considered at various times the gap between the leagues is considered too great. The standard of play in the KFL is comparable to the better second division teams of the world's top football leagues, having improved considerably in recent years.
The Kelssek national football team is of a relatively high standard, consistently qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup. Many of Kelssek's top footballers play in foreign leagues, with the KFL generally considered being of too low a standard and being unable to match the financial clout of the élite leagues.
All members of the KFL and the KNFL are independent clubs. Promising young players typically are developed through junior programs of the KFL clubs; recruitment as a youth player by a KFL or KNFL club is generally regarded as the primary route to playing in the KFL, although some players are also recruited via their play for high school or varsity teams. Under Football Kelssek rules, only players 17 years or older may sign professional contracts.
Rules
The rules of association football that most people are used to are played. In case of ties in the standings, the following tie-breakers are used:
- Best goal difference
- Most goals scored
- Head-to-head aggregate score (disregarded when more than 2 teams are tied for points)
- Most games won
- Fewest red cards
- Fewest yellow cards
- Toss of a coin
Players
There is no rule or limit on foreign players, although this is largely due to the fact that there aren't enough of them around to be deemed an issue to deal with. There are likewise no rules on salaries or salary caps; teams are limited by the limited amount of money sloshing around in what is basically a second-rate professional league.
Yellow and red cards
Players are automatically suspended for one game for every four yellow cards accumulated. From sixteen cards onwards, the suspension becomes two games. Red cards incur an automatic one-game suspension and are reviewed by the league disciplinary committee, which can impose further suspensions for up to four games.
International competitions
The league champions and runners-up become eligible for the TakilQuip Champions' Cup, entering in the preliminary rounds, with third and fourth place becoming eligible for the Globe Cup.
Teams
| Team name | City | Home stadium |
| ASC Arvika | Arvika | Westfield Street |
| AS Dieppe | Dieppe | Parc Desjardins |
| Burnaby SC | Burnaby | Swangard |
| Capital FC | Neorvins | The Domain |
| Castors d'Outineau | Outineau | Stade Viau |
| CF Outineau | Outineau | Parc Angrignon |
| CF Saint-Richard Pacifique | Saint-Richard | Champ d'Armes |
| Clayquot City | Clayquot | Kanard Park |
| Coquitlam United | Coquitlam, KO | Barnet Field |
| Kirkenes FC | Kirkenes | Exhibition Place |
| Latrobe AFC | Latrobe | Richmond Park |
| Langlois Océanic | Langlois | |
| Mazinaw Stallions | Mazinaw | Millers Road |
| NGSA Ulyanov | Ulyanov | Stadium of the Stars |
| North York FC | Kirkenes | |
| Penticton FC | Penticton, KO | Lakeshore Park |
| CS Saint-Rémy | Saint-Rémy | |
| Vickery Jaguars | Vickery | Holdom Park |
Rivalries and derbies
A number of rivalries exist, mostly based on geography:
- Battle of Outineau: Castors d'Outineau vs. CF Outineau
- Lakeland Derby: Burnaby SC vs. Coquitlam United
- Kirkenes Derby: Kirkenes FC vs. North York FC
- Battle of Etnier: Latrobe AFC vs. Clayquot City
Media coverage
The national broadcaster of Kelssek, the KBC, broadcasts two live games nationally on weekends, sharing advertising revenue with the league. Many clubs also have agreements with local broadcast and cable media for live broadcast of their matches. As football is a relatively minor sport in Kelssek these television deals, while a source of revenue, are not greatly lucrative and serve mainly to give the sport greater exposure.
