David GOMBE
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) President Moses Magogo has revealed that the 2023/24 Uganda Premier league will be determined by head to head.
In the previous Uganda Premier league campaigns, the winners have been determined via goal difference but basing on the new format this is now further behind.
Last season, superior goal difference helped Vipers SC beat second placed KCCA FC to the league title.
Following last season’s dramatic finish, FUFA and it’s stakeholders made an amendment in the rule.
Article 14(4) of the competitions rules that ranks teams in a group format setting had amendments.
The 2023/4 FUFA Competitions Rules (Article 14(4)) rank league format competitions using the following priority order:
1. Points accumulated
2. Head-to-Head Goal Aggregate
3. Virtual Points
4. Goal Difference
5. Goal For
6. Fair Play
What ARTICLE 14(4) states;
League, Mini League and group stage of Mixed-Format Competition
a.Each team participating in a league or mini-league match shall be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a draw, and zero (0) points for a loss. FUFA may draw specific regulations for some specific competitions.
b) The winner shall be team at the top of the final table standing.
c) The positions on table standing at all times throughout the league or mini league shall be ranked on the following priority order from top to bottom considering cumulative statistics from the first to the last recognized matches of the competition
(i) Total Number of Points Accumulated
(ii) If Rule 14(4) (c) (i) does not separate the teams, then the better team, between the tying teams, by the Head-to-Head (Using the goal aggregate system) will be ranked above the other(s)
iii) If Rule 14(4) (c)(ii) does not separate the teams, then the better team, between the tying teams, by virtual points will be ranked above the other(s).
For purposes of this provision, virtual points shall be the one (1) extra point earned by the teams that win their match by 2-goal or more goal margin
iv) If Rule 14(4) (c)(iii) does not separate the teams, then the better team, between the tying teams, by the difference between the Goals Scored against the Goals Conceded will be ranked above the other(s)
v) If Rule 14(4) (c)(iv) does not separate the teams, then the better team, between the tying teams, with a superior number of Goals Scored will be ranked above the other(s)
vi) If Rule 14(4) (c)(v) does not separate the teams, then the better team, between the tying teams, with an inferior number of fair-play points will be ranked above the other(s)
For the purpose of this provision, fair-play points will be calculated as 3 points for a red card and 1 point for a yellow card and totaled up per team throughout the competition.
vii) If Rule 14(4) (c)(vi) does not separate the teams, then the FUFA Executive will take a decision to rank such teams including but not limited tossing a coin for tournament played with a mini league format or a fully replay between the tying teams for the league format.
Basing on the new format, BUL FC currently leads the league standings due to their better head to head over second placed Vipers with both teams tied on 49 points. BUL beat Vipers 3-2 at Kitende before completing a double over the six time league champions with a 1-0 victory at Namboole.
