2021–22 Saudi First Division League

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First Division League
Season2021–22
Dates6 September 2021 – 29 May 2022
Matches played270
Goals scored597 (2.21 per match)
Top goalscorerCarolus Andria
(22 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Sahel 5–0 Al-Khaleej
(5 January 2022)
Biggest away winAl-Qadsiah 0–4 Al-Sahel
(5 October 2021)
Al-Jeel 1–5 Al-Khaleej
(18 January 2022)
Highest scoringAl-Jeel 3–6 Al-Sahel
(14 December 2021)
Longest winning runHajer
Ohod
(5 matches)
Longest unbeaten runAl-Sahel
(10 matches)
Longest winless runAl-Kawkab
Bisha
(15 matches)
Longest losing runBisha
(7 matches)
→
All statistics correct as of 9 March 2022.

The 2021–22 First Division League (known as the League for sponsorship reasons) will be the 1st season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 45th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 6 September 2021 and is scheduled to conclude on 29 May 2022.[1][2]

Overview[]

Changes[]

On 9 October 2020, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the league would be decreased to 18 starting from the 2022–23 season. To prepare for these changes it was announced that 5 teams would be relegated in the 2021–22 season and only 3 teams would be promoted from the 2021–22 Second Division.[3]

Rebrand[]

On 26 August 2021, the newly appointed executive director of the FDL, Talal Al-Obaidi, announced a rebrand; beginning with the 2021–22 season, the competition would be known as the First Division League (FDL). As part of the rebranding, a new logo was introduced.[4][5]

Name sponsorship[]

On 1 September 2021, the FDL announced a sponsorship with car rental company . As part of the sponsorship deal, the First Division League would be known as the Yelo League for the next 3 seasons.[6][7]

Team changes[]

The following teams have changed division since the 2021–22 season.

Teams[]

A total of 20 teams are contesting the league, including 13 sides from the 2020–21 season, 4 promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Pro League.

The first club to be relegated to the First Division League was Al-Ain, who were relegated after only a year in the top flight 2–0 defeat away to Al-Nassr on 14 May 2021.[8] In the final matchday, both Al-Qadsiah and Al-Wehda were relegated following a draw with Abha and a loss against Al-Shabab respectively.[9] Al-Qadsiah were relegated after only a year in the top flight while Al-Wehda were relegated after three years in the top flight.

The first club to be promoted was Al-Orobah who were promoted despite a 1–0 away defeat to Afif on 27 March 2021.[10] On 3 April 2021, both Al-Okhdood and Bisha were promoted. Al-Okhdood were promoted following a 1–1 draw with Al-Taqadom while Bisha were promoted following a 2–0 win over Al-Jandal.[11] The final club to be promoted was Al-Kholood, who were promoted following a 3–1 away win over Al-Dahab in the final matchday.[12]

Al-Okhdood defeated Al-Orobah 4–2 on penalties (3–3 after extra time) to win their second title and first since 1992.[13]

Al-Kholood and Bisha will play in the First Division League for the first time in their history. Al-Orobah return after an absence of two seasons and will play in their 13th overall season in the First Division League. Al-Okhdood return to the First Division League for the first time since the 1992–93 season. They will play in their 2nd season in the First Division League.

Stadia and locations[]

class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2021–22 First Division League
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-Adalah Al-Hasa () Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
 26,000[14]
12,000
Al-Ain Al Bahah King Saud Sport City Stadium 10,000[15]
Al-Diriyah Diriyah Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Riyadh) 15,000[16]
Al-Jabalain Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000[17]
Al-Jeel Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Hajer Club Stadium 		26,000
12,000
Al-Kawkab Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200[18]
Al-Khaleej Saihat 10,000[19]
Al-Kholood Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium
Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium (Al Bukayriyah) 		8,000[20]
5,000
Al-Nahda Dammam
Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium 		15,000[21]
35,000
Al-Okhdood Najran
12,000[22]
10,000[23]
Al-Orobah Sakakah Al-Orobah Club Stadium 6,000[24]
Al-Qadsiah Khobar Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium 15,000[25]
Al-Sahel Anak Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar) 15,000
Al-Shoulla Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200
Al-Wehda Mecca King Abdul Aziz Stadium 38,000
Bisha Bisha
King Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah) 		2,000
10,000
Hajer Al-Hasa (Hofuf)
Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 		12,000[26]
26,000
Jeddah Jeddah Reserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City 1,000[27]
Najran Najran Prince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium
Najran University Stadium 		12,000
10,000
Ohod Medina Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 24,000[28]

Foreign players[]

On 26 June 2021, the Saudi FF announced that the number of foreign players was increased from 4 players to 5 players.[29]

Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Former Players
Al-Adalah Brazil Alan Brazil Nailson Mali Ibrahima Tandia Nigeria Tunde Adeniji Nigeria Ogenyi Onazi Tunisia
Al-Ain Chad Othman Alhaj Chad Nigeria Reuben Gabriel Venezuela Juanpi
Al-Diriyah Algeria Hacène Ogbi Brazil Cameroon Marius Obekop Ghana Joseph Adjei Syria Mahmoud Al-Youssef Brazil
Nigeria
Al-Jabalain Algeria Nabil Saâdou Brazil Rogerinho Brazil Ecuador Marlon Portugal Ricardo Ribeiro Brazil Jefferson
Brazil Tiago Orobó
Al-Jeel Somalia Senegal Syria Tunisia Tunisia Aymen Trabelsi Brazil
Syria Ahmad Al Douni
Al-Kawkab France Franck Julienne Morocco Badreddine Benachour Senegal Falou Samb Tunisia Hamza Ben Abda Tunisia
Al-Khaleej Brazil Ivory Coast Mamadou Soro Ghana Samuel Sarfo Serbia Miodrag Gemović Tunisia
Al-Kholood Algeria Islam Chahrour Algeria Jordan Malek Shalabiya Nigeria Aniekpeno Udo Tunisia Algeria Sid Ahmed Aouadj
Mauritania
Nigeria Prince Obus Aggreh
Al-Nahda Algeria Rachid Nadji Jordan Mohammad Zureiqat Morocco Nabil Aankour Sudan Tunisia Bilel Souissi Ghana Michael Sarpong
Nigeria
Tunisia Fehmi Kacem
Al-Okhdood Brazil Kaká Mendes Brazil Brazil Oman Issam Al Sabhi Tunisia Alaya Brigui Brazil Hugo Cabral
Brazil Taylon Correa
Al-Orobah Brazil Brazil Dudu Brazil Mali Senegal  [ar] Cape Verde Héldon Ramos
Al-Qadsiah Burundi Cédric Amissi Ivory Coast  [ar] Madagascar Ibrahim Amada Morocco Moha Rharsalla Serbia Uroš Vitas Brazil Carlão
Brazil Leandro Carvalho
Brazil Muralha
Al-Sahel Brazil Jhonnattann Benites Brazil Brazil Ghana Lawson Bekui Nigeria
Al-Shoulla Brazil Pitty Ivory Coast Guinea-Bissau Piqueti Senegal Omar Wade Zimbabwe Ovidy Karuru Croatia Mario Budimir
Al-Wehda Eritrea Ahmed Abdu Jaber France Karim Yoda Guinea Ousmane Barry Ivory Coast Soualio Ouattara Spain Alberto Botía
Bisha Algeria Sid Ahmed Aouadj Ivory Coast Guinea Tunisia Tunisia Algeria Kaddour Beldjilali
Kenya
Zambia Saith Sakala
Hajer Brazil Adriano Pardal Brazil Fernando Gabriel Brazil Lázaro Ivory Coast Mali Modibo Maïga
Jeddah Egypt Mohammad Fouad Ivory Coast Junior Magbi Portugal Emanuel Novo Tunisia Alaeddine Bouslimi Tunisia Bilel Khefifi Brazil
Brazil Halef Pitbull
Egypt
Rwanda
Najran Brazil Brazil Rafael Costa Ghana Izaka Aboudou Tunisia Tunisia Oussema Boughanmi Tunisia
Ohod Algeria Sofiane Khelili Bosnia and Herzegovina Goran Zakarić Madagascar Carolus Andria Morocco Zakaria Lahlali Tunisia Tunisia Mourad Hedhli

League table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Khaleej 27 15 7 5 45 29 +16 52 Promotion to the Pro League
2 Al-Adalah 27 13 8 6 30 24 +6 47
3 Hajer 27 13 6 8 34 25 +9 45
4 Ohod 27 12 9 6 41 33 +8 45
5 Al-Jabalain 27 13 6 8 32 26 +6 45
6 Al-Wehda 27 11 11 5 32 20 +12 44
7 Al-Qadsiah 27 10 10 7 31 23 +8 40
8 Al-Kholood 27 10 7 10 28 28 0 37
9 Najran 27 9 9 9 24 23 +1 36
10 Al-Orobah 27 9 8 10 28 28 0 35
11 Al-Okhdood 27 9 8 10 33 34 −1 35
12 Al-Sahel 27 8 10 9 36 32 +4 34
13 Jeddah 27 9 7 11 27 28 −1 34
14 Al-Shoulla 27 7 12 8 30 27 +3 33
15 Al-Nahda 27 7 9 11 27 34 −7 30
16 Al-Jeel 27 6 12 9 23 36 −13 30 Relegation to the Second Division
17 Al-Diriyah 27 8 6 13 28 43 −15 30
18 Al-Ain 27 5 13 9 24 34 −10 28[a]
19 Al-Kawkab 27 4 11 12 23 32 −9 23
20 Bisha 27 4 7 16 21 38 −17 19[a]
Updated to match(es) played on 9 March 2022. Source: goalzz.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Fair-play points (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[31]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Bisha were awarded a 3–0 win over Al-Ain due to Al-Ain's inability to hold the fixture.[30]

Positions by round[]

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
Al-Adalah411112211122222332222121222
Al-Ain141619201817171920202020192020202019191919181817171718
Al-Diriyah3351157118910107121416171815161313151614151517
Al-Jabalain19181415135975561014131013109644545455
Al-Jeel10679810101417151515151618181718151617171518181816
Al-Kawkab1619181416117111012131113121316161718181819191919191919
Al-Khaleej752321122331111111111212111
Al-Kholood202020171919202018191916161715121311119101199988
Al-Nahda1381271113151515181718181817151414141516131416161615
Al-Okhdood1811161820201913867977876588891111101011
Al-Orobah5121157463789141111118111291097788910
Al-Qadsiah12151041012141713131213997971012121210107777
Al-Sahel91417191581216161414128544435578810111112
Al-Shoulla8136246454455469101213131414141312131314
Al-Wehda224833346744686557775666666
Bisha15101316171818121417181920191919192020202020202020202020
Hajer199121215863213335686466454543
Jeddah17171510914131012986101012141516171715161715121213
Najran1178131416161819161617171514119810111112121314149
Ohod643669591111118543224333333334
Leader
Promotion to the Pro League
Relegation to the Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 9 March 2022. Source:[citation needed]

Results[]

Home \ Away ADA AIN DIR JAB JEL KAW KHJ KHO NAH OKH ORO QAD SAH SHO WHD BIS HJR JED NAJ OHD
Al-Adalah 1–1 3–0 0–2 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 1–1 2–1
Al-Ain 2–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–4
Al-Diriyah 0–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–1 1–0 0–2 2–4 1–2 2–0 2–1 1–1
Al-Jabalain 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 2–0 0–3
Al-Jeel 0–2 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–5 3–2 0–1 0–2 1–0 3–6 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–2
Al-Kawkab 0–1 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–2 0–1 2–3 0–1 0–1 0–1
Al-Khaleej 2–2 2–0 0–0 1–1 3–1 1–0 5–2 3–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–1
Al-Kholood 1–2 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–0
Al-Nahda 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–2 2–0 1–2 2–1 3–0
Al-Okhdood 0–0 4–0 2–3 3–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 0–0 1–2
Al-Orobah 1–0 0–0 3–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–3
Al-Qadsiah 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 3–1 0–4 2–1 2–1 3–0 3–0 3–0
Al-Sahel 1–1 1–0 5–0 3–1 1–1 1–3 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–4 2–1 0–0
Al-Shoulla 1–1 4–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–1 1–1
Al-Wehda 1–1 1–3 0–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 0–0 2–0 0–1 3–3
Bisha 2–3 3–0[32] 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–1 1–2 0–1
Hajer 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 1–1
Jeddah 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–2 2–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 4–1 0–1 1–2 1–1
Najran 1–0 3–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–2 1–1
Ohod 0–1 2–1 3–2 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–2 2–1 2–0 1–2 1–0
Updated to match(es) played on 9 March 2022. Source: goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics[]

As of 9 March 2022
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