2013 Belarusian Premier League
The 2013 Belarusian Premier League was the 23rd season of top-tier football in Belarus. It began in April 2013 and ended in November 2013. BATE Borisov are the defending champions, having won their 9th league title the previous year.
Format change
Starting with this season, the league will be played in two phases. The first phase will consist of a regular double-round robin tournament between 12 teams. The best six teams will qualify for the championship round, which will determine the champions and the participants for the 2014–15 European competitions. The remaining six teams play in the relegation group, where the top four teams will secure places in the 2014 competition, the fifth team (11th overall) will play a two-legged relegation play-off against the runners-up of the First League, and the sixth team (12th overall) will be automatically relegated. All points collected during the first phase will count for the second phase as well.
Teams
Locations of teams in the 2013 Belarusian Premier LeagueNo teams were relegated to the First League after the 2012 season since the number of teams was shortened from 12 to 11 at the last moment in early 2012. Dnepr Mogilev, the champions of 2012 First League, were promoted to the Premier League after 1 season's absence.
Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino, as the 11th-placed team in the 2012 Premier League, had to compete in the relegation/promotion playoffs against First League runners-up Gorodeya. Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino won the playoff, 4–1 on aggregate, and both teams retained positions in their respective leagues.
Team summaries
Team | Location | Venue | Capacity | Position in 2012 |
---|---|---|---|---|
BATE | Borisov | City Stadium[1]
|
5,402 | 1 |
Belshina | Bobruisk
|
Spartak Stadium (Bobruisk)[2] | 3,700 | 7 |
Dinamo Brest
|
Brest | OSK Brestskiy[3]
|
10,162 | 8 |
Dinamo Minsk | Minsk | Traktor Stadium[4] | 17,600 | 3 |
Dnepr | Mogilev | Spartak Stadium (Mogilev) | 7,350 | First League, 1 |
Gomel | Gomel | Central Stadium[5] | 14,307 | 4 |
Minsk | Minsk | Torpedo Stadium (Minsk)[6] | 1,600 | 6 |
Naftan | Novopolotsk | Atlant Stadium | 4,500 | 9 |
Neman | Grodno | Neman Stadium | 8,500 | 5 |
Shakhtyor | Soligorsk
|
Stroitel Stadium[7] | 4,200 | 2 |
Slavia Mozyr | Mozyr
|
Yunost Stadium[8]
|
5,353 | 10 |
Torpedo-BelAZ | Zhodino
|
Torpedo Stadium (Zhodino) | 6,524 | 11 |
- Zhodino.