Revolution in Serbian Footy - Serbia's new 5 Tier Pyramid

A NEW ERA OF SERBIAN FOOTBALL: A REVOLUTION IN QUALITY, INTEGRITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

A complete fictional overhaul of Serbia’s system by Paya.

• Super Liga: 10 teams, split + play-offs
  
• Fully connected 5-tier pyramid
  
• Strict youth rules & foreign limits
  
• Financial structure across all levels
  

I. BASIC POSTULATES OF THE REFORM

1. The new structure of the competition was not created randomly, but is the result of a detailed analysis with the aim of eliminating "matches of no competitive significance" and ensuring financial stability.
2. Concentration of quality: Reducing the number of clubs in the higher ranks in order to create an elite capable of European challenges.
3. Categorization of clubs: The status of a club in the new system is determined by the Composite Performance Index (KIU), which evaluates: competitive results (last 5 years), infrastructure, financial independence, historical significance, player production,...
4. Competitiveness: Introduction of points sharing and innovative play-off formats so that every match, until the last round, has weight.
5. Financial fairness: Guaranteed revenues, win bonuses and so-called "parachute payments" for relegated clubs, thus preventing clubs from shutting down.
6. Easy-to-understand and intuitive formats of the competition, as well as the fairness and validity of the placement
7. Complete reform of amateur football in Serbia: 4. and 5. Rank, more than 400 clubs
8. Strict club licensing: Professional License - Semi Professional License A - Semi Professional License B - Amateur License
9. Reform of cup competitions: 4 new cups, matches abroad, bigger prizes
10. New money contracts

II. STRUCTURE OF THE COMPETITION: A PYRAMID OF 5 RANKS
The new system consists of one professional, two semi-professional and two amateur leagues, with the addition of a parallel system for development ("B") teams.

1ST Tier: MOZZART BET SUPER LIGA SRBIJE
The Elite of Serbian Football – Professional Status
Format: 10 clubs.
System: A three-round system (3x9 circuits), after which the league is divided.
Play-offs (Top 6): One-round (5 rounds) for the title and Europe.
Play-out (4 teams): One-round (3 rounds) for survival.
Registration rules: 1 U20 player on the field (bonus) required. Maximum of 8 foreigners in the protocol. Homegrown U18 can always play.
Calendar: No winter break (aligned with the European calendar).
Promotion/Relegation:
10th place: Direct relegation.
9th place: A participant in the barrage for survival.
Finances: Each club receives a guaranteed €650,000 per year + high bonuses for placement and victories.

2ND TIER: MOZZART BET PRVA LIGA SRBIJE
Semi-Professional A Status – Talent Incubator
Format: 14 clubs.
System: Two-round system (26 rounds), division of the league in 7th place.
Play-off (Top 7): Double Round (12 additional rounds).
Play-out (Bottom 7): Double Round (12 extra rounds).
Registration rules: 2 U20 players required. Maximum of 6 foreigners. Homegrown U18 can always play.
Calendar: Short winter break.
Promotion/Barage:
1stPlace: Direct placement in the Super League.
2nd, 3rd and 4th place + 9th team of the Super League: They play the "F4" tournament (semi-finals/finals). The winner will go to the Super League.
Relegation: Two teams are directly relegated, two go to the play-offs against the losers of the play-offs of the Serbian leagues.
Finance: €100,000 guaranteed + bonuses.

3rd Tier: SRPSKE LIGE (4 GROUPS)
Semi-Professional B Status – Regional Basis
Formats: 4 groups of 10 clubs (Zapad, Istok, Vojvodina, Belgrade).
System: Three-lap system (27 laps) + division in the 4th position for the final mini-cycle (3 rounds in the playoffs and 5 rounds in the playoffs).
Registration rules: 2 U20 players required. Maximum of 4 foreigners. Homegrown U18 can always play.
Promotion:
The champions of the group enter each other's playoffs. The winners of the match go to the Premier League. The losers have a "second chance" through a play-off with teams from the First League who are fighting for survival.
Relegation: 1 team is directly relegated, 2 teams go to the relegation play-offs against teams from the Zone Leagues.
Funding: €25,000 per club.


4TH TIER: AMATEUR NATIONAL ZONAL LEAGUES
Reform of amateur sports
Structure: 8 leagues of 10 clubs each, regionalised
Format: Double-circuit system (20 games) + 2x division in 4th place.
Specificity: Emphasis on the amateur spirit. There are no restrictions on player registration.
Support: The FSS covers the costs of all guest appearances in order to relieve the budgets of local self-governments.
Promotion: The winners of the groups play the final of the playoffs to enter the Serbian League. The losers have a second chance against the losers of the playoffs for the relegation of the Serbian League.
Relegation: 2 teams are directly relegated, while 1 team goes into the rele. Play offs where 4 out of 8 teams get relegated

5TH TIER: AMATEUR LOWER LEAGUES (NORTH AND SOUTH)
Football Base
Structure: 40 leagues divided into North (20) and South (20). Each league has 8 clubs, regionalised
System: 2x7 rounds + play-offs and play-outs (2x3 games)
Promotion: League winners go to the play offs where 20 out of 40 teams get promoted.
Relegation: The last-placed clubs must justify their status against potential candidates from the community of the Balon League Belgrade
Support: Paid travel expenses for all clubs.

III. DEVELOPMENTAL "B" LEAGUES AND JUNIOR CATEGORIES
Recognizing the problem of the transition from youth to senior football, the FSS is introducing a closed system for reserve teams, focused exclusively on development.
MozzartBet First "B" League as well as Serbian "B" League: 10/8 clubs, "B" license. In 4x9 format with a short winter break.
Key rule: A minimum of 10 players under the age of 22 must be on the field at any given time. The result is in the background, development is primary.
Youth categories: Youth and Cadet leagues completely "copy" the formats of the senior ranks for less result pressure.

IV. REVISION OF THE CUP COMPETITION
The Cup system has been redesigned to reward success and bring spectacle to smaller environments.
SERBIAN CUP: Includes the first three ranks + the top 16 from the 4th rank. Niželigaš is always a host. The game is played on Wednesdays.
SERBIAN AMATEUR CUP: For clubs of 4th, 5th and 6th rank. No cash prizes. The final is played abroad (football arenas in the diaspora), at the expense of the Association.
SERBIAN SUPER CUP: The winner of the Serbian Cup against the winner of the Amateur Cup. A spectacle at the beginning of the season with cash prizes.
Winter and Summer Cups: Tournament format during the breaks for the lower leagues. The Winter League Cup as well as the Summer Cup. Serious cash prizes as well as amateur football spectacles in the diaspora.