2021–22 Saudi First Division League

The 2021–22 First Division League (known as the Yelo 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]

First Division League
Season2021–22
Dates6 September 2021 – 29 May 2022
Matches played330
Goals scored711 (2.15 per match)
Top goalscorerCarolus Andria
(24 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
(21 matches)
Longest losing runBisha
(7 matches)
2022–23
All statistics correct as of 20 April 2022.

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 Yelo. 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

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-Adalah Al-Hasa (Al-Hulaylah) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Hajer Club 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 Al-Khaleej Club Stadium 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 Fahd bin Salman Stadium
Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium
15,000[21]
35,000
Al-Okhdood Najran Prince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium
Najran University Stadium
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 Bisha University Stadium
King Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah)
2,000
10,000
Hajer Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Hajer Club Stadium
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 Alan Nailson Ibrahima Tandia Tunde Adeniji Ogenyi Onazi Achraf Krir
Al-Ain Othman Alhaj Othman Hassan Reuben Gabriel Juanpi
Al-Diriyah Hacène Ogbi Wesley Marius Obekop Joseph Adjei Mahmoud Al-Youssef Gelson
Ibrahim Salis
Al-Jabalain Nabil Saâdou Rogerinho Teco Marlon Ricardo Ribeiro Jefferson
Tiago Orobó
Al-Jeel Faisal Abu Bakr Abdulaziz N'Diaye Abdullah Jenyat Zied El Bakouch Aymen Trabelsi Romarinho
Ahmad Al Douni
Al-Kawkab Franck Julienne Badreddine Benachour Falou Samb Hamza Ben Abda Oussema Ben Ayed
Al-Khaleej Diego Miranda Mamadou Soro Samuel Sarfo Miodrag Gemović Mondher Guesmi
Al-Kholood Islam Chahrour Nasreddine Zaâlani Malek Shalabiya Aniekpeno Udo Khemais Maaouani Sid Ahmed Aouadj
Mohamed Salem
Prince Obus Aggreh
Al-Nahda Rachid Nadji Mohammad Zureiqat Nabil Aankour Abdulaziz Noor Bilel Souissi Michael Sarpong
Ifeanyi Anaemena
Fehmi Kacem
Al-Okhdood Kaká Mendes Maicon Douglas Reinaldo Dutra Issam Al Sabhi Alaya Brigui Hugo Cabral
Taylon Correa
Al-Orobah Rayllan Bruno Dudu Philipe Maia Aboubacar Diarra Abdoulaye Dieng Héldon Ramos
Al-Qadsiah Cédric Amissi Ibrahim Diomandé Ibrahim Amada Moha Rharsalla Uroš Vitas Carlão
Leandro Carvalho
Muralha
Al-Sahel Jhonnattann Benites Uilliam Victor Lawson Bekui Daniel Ajibola
Al-Shoulla Pitty Sylla Daouda Piqueti Omar Wade Ovidy Karuru Mario Budimir
Al-Wehda Ahmed Abdu Jaber Karim Yoda Ousmane Barry Soualio Ouattara Alberto Botía
Bisha Sid Ahmed Aouadj Guillaume Daho Seydouba Camara Seifeddine Akremi Mohamed Ben Tarcha Kaddour Beldjilali
Elvis Rupia
Saith Sakala
Hajer Adriano Pardal Fernando Gabriel Lázaro Ismail Kouakou Modibo Maïga
Jeddah Mohammad Fouad Junior Magbi Emanuel Novo Alaeddine Bouslimi Bilel Khefifi Breno
Halef Pitbull
Mohamed Abdelmaguid
Ally Niyonzima
Najran Carlos Henrique Izaka Aboudou Kwame Quee Borhen Hkimi Oussema Boughanmi Rafael Costa
Seifeddine Jerbi
Ohod Sofiane Khelili Goran Zakarić Carolus Andria Zakaria Lahlali Ouday Belhaj Mourad Hedhli

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Khaleej 33 17 9 7 49 33 +16 60 Promotion to the Pro League
2 Al-Wehda 33 15 12 6 40 24 +16 57
3 Al-Adalah 33 16 9 8 38 30 +8 57
4 Al-Jabalain 33 15 8 10 41 35 +6 53
5 Hajer 33 14 9 10 36 28 +8 51
6 Ohod 33 13 12 8 45 39 +6 51
7 Al-Qadsiah 33 13 11 9 38 28 +10 50
8 Al-Kholood 33 13 9 11 38 34 +4 48
9 Al-Orobah 33 12 11 10 37 34 +3 47
10 Najran 33 12 10 11 33 29 +4 46
11 Al-Okhdood 33 11 9 13 37 38 1 42
12 Al-Jeel 33 9 13 11 28 42 14 40
13 Al-Sahel 33 9 12 12 42 38 +4 39
14 Al-Shoulla 33 8 15 10 32 29 +3 39
15 Jeddah 33 10 9 14 30 35 5 39
16 Al-Ain 33 8 15 10 29 37 8 39[lower-alpha 1] Relegation to the Second Division
17 Al-Diriyah 33 9 10 14 34 49 15 37
18 Al-Nahda 33 8 12 13 32 41 9 36
19 Al-Kawkab 33 4 13 16 29 44 15 25
20 Bisha 33 5 10 18 23 44 21 25[lower-alpha 1]
Updated to match(es) played on 20 April 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. 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-Adalah411112211122222332222121222444333
Al-Ain141619201817171920202020192020202019191919181817171718181615171516
Al-Diriyah3351157118910107121416171815161313151614151517171718181717
Al-Jabalain19181415135975561014131013109644545455222444
Al-Jeel10679810101417151515151618181718151617171518181816161517131212
Al-Kawkab16191814161171110121311131213161617181818191919191919191919191919
Al-Khaleej752321122331111111111212111111111
Al-Kholood20202017191920201819191616171512131111910119998891110888
Al-Nahda1381271113151515181718181817151414141516131416161615151816161818
Al-Okhdood18111618202019138679778765888911111010111199101111
Al-Orobah5121157463789141111118111291097788910101011999
Al-Qadsiah12151041012141713131213997971012121210107777787777
Al-Sahel91417191581216161414128544435578810111112121214121313
Al-Shoulla8136246454455469101213131414141312131314131312141414
Al-Wehda224833346744686557775666666333222
Bisha151013161718181214171819201919191920202020202020202020202020202020
Hajer199121215863213335686466454543556655
Jeddah17171510914131012986101012141516171715161715121213141413151615
Najran1178131416161819161617171514119810111112121314149878111010
Ohod643669591111118543224333333334665566
Leader
Promotion to the Pro League
Relegation to the Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 20 April 2022. Source:

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 0–1 3–3 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 1–0 1–1 2–1
Al-Ain 2–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 3–0 1–0 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 1–1 2–1 1–1
Al-Jabalain 1–2 1–0 3–2 1–0 1–2 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 2–0 2–1 0–3
Al-Jeel 0–2 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–5 3–2 0–1 0–2 1–0 3–6 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–3 2–2
Al-Kawkab 0–1 1–1 1–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–2 0–2 0–0 1–0 0–2 0–1 2–3 0–1 0–1 0–1
Al-Khaleej 2–2 1–2 2–0 0–0 1–1 3–1 1–0 5–2 3–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–0
Al-Kholood 1–2 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 3–1 1–1
Al-Nahda 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–2 2–0 1–2 2–1 0–2 3–0
Al-Okhdood 0–0 4–0 2–3 3–1 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–2
Al-Orobah 1–0 0–0 3–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–3
Al-Qadsiah 0–2 0–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 3–1 0–4 2–1 0–2 2–1 3–0 3–0 3–0
Al-Sahel 1–1 1–0 0–0 5–0 3–1 0–0 1–1 1–3 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–4 2–1 0–0 1–2
Al-Shoulla 0–1 1–1 4–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 3–1 0–2 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–1 1–1
Al-Wehda 1–0 1–1 1–3 0–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 0–0 1–2 2–0 0–1 3–3
Bisha 2–3 3–0[32] 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–0 0–3 1–3 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–1
Hajer 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 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 0–3 2–0 0–0 4–1 0–1 1–2 1–1
Najran 2–1 1–0 0–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–2 1–1
Ohod 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–2 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 19 April 2022. Source: goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics

As of 20 April 2022
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