In the 2023/24 season, direct comparison will no longer decide promotion or relegation in the Lower Rhine Football Association.
In the new season in the Lower Rhine, promotion or relegation will no longer be decided by direct comparison. In the new regulations of the Football Association of the Lower Rhine (FVN) for the 2023/24 season, the direct comparison has been abolished in the event of a points tie from the Oberliga Niederrhein downwards.
Instead, the teams that are tied on points for a promotion or relegation spot will play a deciding match next summer. Under the point “23. deciding matches in case of equal points”, the new match regulations state: “According to § 41 SpO/WDFV, the rule applies for all divisions in the FVN that in case of equal points in the table positions that are decisive for promotion or relegation, the promotion or relegation will be determined in possible deciding matches.
There are different scenarios. Should two teams go into the deciding matches, there will be a first leg and a second leg in each case. If the second leg is tied on points and goals after 90 minutes, there will be extra time (2×15 minutes) and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
If three teams are tied on points, there will be a round of three in which each team has one home and one away match. Here, the points count first, then the goal difference and the goals scored. Should the teams in the third match go into the match tied on points and goals, it could also go into extra time or all the way to a penalty shootout.
If there is a tie between all teams from this round, it says: “If all three teams are level on points and goals at the end of the round, the round will be repeated according to § 55 SpO. A match is drawn and played until a decision is made. The winner (in case of relegation) or loser (in case of promotion) is eliminated and the third team plays against the winner (in case of relegation) or loser (in case of promotion) until a decision is made.”
If there are four or more teams playing for promotion or relegation, there will be a knockout round. Immediately after the last matchday, the first matches are drawn and the winner (in the case of relegation) or the loser (in the case of promotion) is eliminated. In the following round the decision follows, in the promotion race the winner is rewarded with the place, in the relegation decision the loser is punished.
