Belarusian First League


The Belarusian First League is the second division of professional football in Belarus. It was created in 1992, following the Belarusian independence.

History and format

The typical format of the league involves 16 clubs playing a double round-robin tournament over 30 matchdays. On several occasions the number of participating teams was smaller, due to last minute withdrawals and no teams available for replacement.
In most of the seasons, two best teams are getting promoted to Belarusian Premier League, while two worst teams are relegated Belarusian Second League. There were, however, some deviations from this formula, particularly when the Premier League was expanding or shortening.

First League in 2019

In 2019, the Belarusian First League will consist of the following 15 teams:
TeamLocationPosition in 2018
SmolevichiSmolevichiPremier League, 15
Belshina BobruiskBobruisk3
LidaLida4
Naftan NovopolotskNovopolotsk5
Lokomotiv GomelGomel6
Slonim-2017Slonim7
Granit MikashevichiMikashevichi8
Khimik SvetlogorskSvetlogorsk9
SmorgonSmorgon11
OrshaOrsha12
Volna PinskPinsk13
BaranovichiBaranovichi14
Rukh BrestBrestSecond League, 1
Krumkachy MinskMinskSecond League, 2
Sputnik RechitsaRechitsaSecond League, 3

Winners and promoted teams

Teams in bold were promoted to Premier League at the end of the season.
SeasonWinnerRunner-upThird place
1992Dinamo-2 MinskShinnik BobruiskKommunalnik Pinsk
1992–93Shinnik BobruiskPolesye MozyrSelmash Mogilev
1993–94Obuvschik LidaPolesye MozyrKommunalnik Pinsk
1994–95MPKC MozyrAtaka-Aura MinskKommunalnik Pinsk
1995Naftan-Devon NovopolotskKommunalnik Pinsk1Fomalgaut Borisov
1996Transmash MogilevKommunalnik SlonimKhimik Svetlogorsk
1997GomelBATE BorisovLida
1998LidaSvisloch-Krovlya OsipovichiPinsk-900
1999Kommunalnik SlonimVedrich-97 RechitsaDinamo-Yuni Minsk
2000MolodechnoLuninetsNeman Mosty
2001Torpedo ZhodinoZvezda-VA-BGU MinskDarida Minsk Raion
2002Darida Minsk RaionNaftan NovopolotskLokomotiv Minsk
2003Lokomotiv VitebskMTZ-RIPO MinskSmorgon
2004Lokomotiv MinskVedrich-97 Rechitsa2Smorgon
2005Belshina BobruiskLokomotiv VitebskSmorgon
2006MinskSmorgonKhimik Svetlogorsk
2007Savit MogilevGranit MikashevichiLokomotiv Minsk
2008MinskKhimik SvetlogorskBelshina Bobruisk
2009Belshina BobruiskVolna PinskDSK Gomel
2010GomelSKVICH Minsk1DSK Gomel
2011Slavia MozyrPartizan Minsk3Gorodeya
2012Dnepr MogilevGorodeya1Vitebsk
2013SlutskGorodeya1Vitebsk
2014Granit MikashevichiSlavia MozyrVitebsk
2015Isloch Minsk RaionGorodeyaKrumkachy Minsk
2016GomelDnepr MogilevGomelzheldortrans
2017Luch MinskSmolevichi-STITorpedo Minsk
2018Slavia MozyrEnergetik-BGU MinskBelshina Bobruisk
2019Belshina BobruiskSmolevichiRukh Brest