2016 Latvian Higher League


The 2016 Latvian Higher League was the 25th season of top-tier football in Latvia. FK Liepāja were the defending champions. The season began on 11 March 2016 and ended on 5 November 2016; the relegation play-offs took place on 9 and 13 November 2016.

Teams

were excluded from the previous season due to suspicion of match-fixing. 2015 Latvian First League winners FC Caramba/Dinamo were promoted to the league and before the season changed their name to Riga FC.
Skonto FC did not obtain a license to play in the 2016 Higher League. Skonto appealed the decision, but the appeal was denied. Since 2015 Latvian First League runners-up Valmiera Glass FK/BSS turned down the opportunity to be promoted to the Higher League, third-placed Rīgas Futbola skola was promoted instead.

Stadiums and locations

ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
BFC DaugavpilsDaugavpilsCeltnieks Stadium1,980
FK JelgavaJelgavaZemgales Olimpiskais Sporta Centrs1,560
FK LiepājaLiepājaDaugava Stadium5,000
FS Metta/LURigaHanzas vidusskolas futbola laukums500
Riga FCRigaSkonto Stadium9,500
FK RFSRigaStadions Arkādija500
FK Spartaks JūrmalaJūrmalaSlokas Stadium2,500
FK VentspilsVentspilsOlimpiskais Stadium3,200

Kits manufacturer and sponsors

League table

Relegation play-offs

The 7th-placed side, FS METTA/LU, faced AFA Olaine, runners-up of the 2016 Latvian First League in a two-legged play-off, with the winner being awarded a spot in the 2017 Higher League competition.

First Leg

Second Leg

METTA/LU won 2–1 on aggregate and retained their place in the 2017 Higher League.

Results

Season statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Ģirts KarlsonsVentspils17
2 Dzmitry PlatonawSpartaks11
3 Jevgēņijs KazačoksSpartaks10
4 Eduards TīdenbergsVentspils8
5 Edgars GauračsLiepāja/Spartaks7
5 Gļebs KļuškinsJelgava7
7 Andrejs KovaļovsJelgava6
7 Oskars KļavaLiepāja6
7 Roberts UldriķisFS Metta/LU6
7 Raivis JurkovskisFK RFS6
7 Yevgeni KozlovSpartaks6

Updated to match played on 29 October 2016.
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