Cypriot First Division
The Cypriot First Division ; is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus, run by the Cyprus Football Association. Since February 2016, it is sponsored by Cyta and thus officially known as Cyta Championship. The league is contested by 12 teams and runs from August to May, with the three lowest-placed teams relegated to the Cypriot Second Division and replaced by the top three teams in that division. At the seasons 2018–19 and 2019–20, the league will be contested by 12 teams and will also be run from August to May, with the two lowest-placed teams relegated to the Cypriot Second Division and replaced by the top two teams in that division.
History
Football was introduced to Cyprus early in the 20th century by the British. Initially played in the island's schools, it proved hugely popular and a number of clubs were duly formed.Since 1911, when Anorthosis Famagusta FC was founded, many clubs were established and in 1932 the Cypriot Championship began annually at first unofficially. Every season, the championship was organized by a different football club which caused some conflicts between some of the teams.
As football became more established, the clubs were united in agreeing that an official body was needed to regulate the sport. And in September 1934, the Cyprus Football Association was formed and the Cypriot Championship and Cup began to take place annually. The first Champions of Cyprus were Trust in 1935 but the club folded three years later. The 1930s were dominated by APOEL, who won five championship in a row until 1940. Like other Championships in the World, the Cypriot Championship was interrupted, due to World War II from 1941 until 1945.
The Cypriot Championship unification, lasted for only two seasons. In 1955, Çetinkaya Türk S.K., who had been the only Turkish Cypriot team playing in the Cypriot First Division since 1934–35, withdrew from the Championship and with other Turkish Cypriot teams, established the Cyprus Turkish Football Federation, with its own competitions. The reason behind this was political, as the Turkish Cypriot leadership were supporting the partition of the island. However, this Federation was never recognized and no team of that federation could play in international competitions.
The independence of Cyprus in 1960, was followed by full membership for the Cyprus Football Association to UEFA in 1962. From 1963, the champions of the Cyprus, could compete in the European Champions Cup and the Cup winners in the European Cup Winners Cup. Since 1971, the runners up in the Greek Cypriot First Division can compete in the UEFA Cup. From 1967 until 1974, the Greek Cypriot Champions were promoted to the Greek First National Division. Greek Cypriot teams were relegated every season from the Alpha Ethniki, apart from 1974, when APOEL managed to remain in the Greek Championship which meant that Cyprus would have two teams in Alpha Ethniki. However, due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus that year, APOEL and Omonia withdrew from the League.
Format
Current format
As of the 2017/18 season, 12 clubs compete in the league. Each club plays the other sides twice, for a total of 22 games for each club. The bottom two teams are relegated directly to the Second Division. In the second round the teams ranked 1-6 play off for the title and European places, and teams finishing 7-12 play each other to avoid an additional relegation place. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. The league champions qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The runner-up and third placed team in the league enters the UEFA Europa League. If the cup winners finish in the regular European places, the fourth placed team of the league are granted a UEFA Europa League berth.Previous formats
From 2007–08 until 2012–13 season, in the second round the first 12 teams were separated into three groups of four teams according to their position at the end of the first round. For the 2013–14 season, in the second round the first 12 teams were separated into two groups of six teams according to their position at the end of the first round. The last two teams of the first round were relegated directly to the B1 Division and the bottom two teams of the relegation group also. The points from the first round were carried to the second round and the teams played each other twice.Points system
The points system of the Cypriot First Division changed three times during the years:- From 1934–35 until 1959–60 season, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.
- From 1960–61 until 1969–70 season, teams were awarded three points for a win, two points for a draw and one point for a defeat.
- From 1970–71 until 1990–91 season, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.
- Since 1991–92 season, teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.
2019–20 Clubs
Map
| Club | Location | 2018–19 season |
| AEK Larnaca | Larnaca | 2nd |
| AEL Limassol | Limassol | 4th |
| Anorthosis | Larnaca | 7th |
| APOEL | Nicosia | 1st |
| Apollon Limassol | Limassol | 3rd |
| Doxa Katokopias | Katokopia | 9th |
| Enosis Neon Paralimni | Paralimni | 10th |
| Ethnikos Achna | Achna | 2D, 1st |
| Nea Salamis Famagusta | Larnaca | 5th |
| Olympiakos Nicosia | Nicosia | 2D, 2nd |
| Omonia | Nicosia | 6th |
| Pafos FC | Paphos | 8th |
Champions
Performances
Performance by club
Appearances in the top division
The below table indicates the total number of seasons each club has participated in the Cypriot First Division, up to the 2019/20 season:
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