The Fiji Premier League or the FPL, also called the Extra Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is the top division men's football league in Fiji. Contested by ten teams, it shares a promotion and relegation system with the Fiji Senior League (FSL). The League is controlled by the Fiji Football Association.
The league was founded as the Fiji National League in 1977 by the Fiji Football Association which was won by Ba. The club that has the most championships is also Ba with 22 titles.
History Foundation (1977) In 1977, the Fiji National League (FNL) was founded. The first ever season was won by Ba.
Sponsorship deals Since 2016, the league has been called the Vodafone Premier League after a sponsorship deal with Vodafone Fiji. On March 3, 2021, Digicel Fiji signed a 3 year deal to sponsor the league, effectively renaming the competition to the Digicel Premier League.
Competition format Competition There are 10 clubs in the Fiji Premier League. During the course of a season, each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponent's home. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank.
Promotion and relegation A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Fiji Premier League and the Senior League. The last placed team in the Fiji Premier League are relegated to the Senior League, and the first placed team from the North and South zones of Senior League are promoted to the Fiji Premier League.
Format
From the inaugural 1977 season to the 2021 season, the Fiji Premier League had eight teams. However, since 2022, the league has had 10 teams.
Since 2016, the league has practiced promotion and relegation. Each season, the team that finishes last is relegated to the Senior League. The Senior League has two zones: the Vanua Levu Zone and the Viti Levu Zone. The highest-finishing clubs from each zone compete in a playoff match, the winner of which is promoted to the Premier League.
The season champion and runners-up both qualify for the OFC Champions League.
Clubs
Current clubs
Champions +ClubWinsWinning yearsLongest Consecutive Wins Ba221977, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20262001 - 2006 (6)Nadi91978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1998, 2000, 20151980 - 1983 (4)Lautoka71984, 1988, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2021, 20232017 - 2018 (2)Suva41996, 1997, 2014, 20201996 - 1997 (2)Nadroga31989, 1990, 19931989 - 1990 (2)Rewa32022, 2024, 20252024 - 2025 (2)Labasa21991, 2007
League Championship (for Districts)
1977: Ba FC 1978: Nadi FC 1979: Ba FC 1980: Nadi FC 1981: Nadi FC 1982: Nadi FC 1983: Nadi FC 1984: Lautoka FC 1985: Nadi FC 1986: Ba FC 1987: Ba FC 1988: Lautoka FC 1989: Nadroga F.C. 1990: Nadroga F.C. 1991: Labasa FC 1992: Ba FC 1993: Nadroga F.C. 1994: Ba FC 1995: Ba FC 1996: Suva FC 1997: Suva FC 1998: Nadi FC 1999: Ba FC 2000: Nadi FC 2001: Ba FC 2002: Ba FC 2003: Ba FC 2004: Ba FC 2005: Ba FC 2006: Ba FC 2007: Labasa FC 2008: Ba FC 2009: Lautoka FC 2010: Ba FCBa FC won the league and finished top of the points table, but second-placed Lautoka FC were awarded the title on Mar 11, 2011, after having a protest pertaining to their match on May 8, 2010 against Rewa (which finished 1–1) ruled in their favour. But the decision was overruled in July 2011, and Ba was declared the winner. 2011: Ba FC 2012: Ba FC 2013: Ba FC 2014: Suva FC 2015: Nadi FC 2016: Ba FC 2017: Lautoka FC 2018: Lautoka FC 2019: Ba FC 2020: Suva FC 2021: Lautoka FC 2022: Rewa FC 2023: Lautoka FC 2024: Rewa FC 2025: Rewa FC 2026: Ba FC
Club championships There have also been competitions between the clubs of Fiji, as opposed to between district teams.
National Club Championship
The National Club Championship is held each year between various champions of local leagues in Fiji. It was first played in 1986.
Club Franchise League The Club Franchise League was only played in 2005 and 2006, to determine a team to qualify for the Oceania Club Championship.
2005: 4R Electric Ltd (Ba) 2006: Nokia Eagles (Nadi)
Top goalscorers Year Best scorers Team Goals2001 Lorima Batirerega Ba FC 72003 Keni Doidoi Ba FC 82006 Josaia Bukalidi Jr Ba FC 232007 Maciu Dunadamu Labasa FC 172008 Roy Krishna Labasa FC 312009 Keni Doidoi Lautoka FC 122017 Joel Shelvin Prasad Labasa FC 102018 Rusiate Matarerega Nadi FC 82019 Samuela Drudru Lautoka FC 122020 Sairusi NalaubuSuva92021 Sairusi NalaubuLautoka92022 Sairusi NalaubuLautoka122023 Sairusi NalaubuLautoka192024 Merrill NandSuva11 Most time goalscorers 4 times Sairusi Nalaubu (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) Most goals by a player in a single season 31 goals Roy Krishna (2008)
Multiple hat-tricks RankCountry PlayerHat-tricks 1Sairusi Nalaubu22 Brian Charitau1Simione DamuniAtkin KauaMerrill NandJunior RockyMohammed Shazil Azariah SoromonAvinesh Suwamy Saula Waqa Christopher Wasasala
References
External links Fiji – List of Champions, RSSSF.com Vodafone Premier League - Fiji Sun