Royal League
 |
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| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Abolished | 2007 |
| Region |
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| Number of teams | 12 |
| Last champions | Brøndby IF |
| Most successful club(s) | F.C. Copenhagen (2 titles) |
The Royal League was an annual Scandinavian football tournament held three times between teams from the three Scandinavian monarchies (Denmark, Sweden, and Norway), starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. Denmark, however, are in mid-season when the tournament starts. The four best-placed teams in the football leagues of Denmark, Norway and Sweden participate in the tournament.
There was discussion of expanding the league, and include the winners of Veikkausliiga and Landsbankadeild, which are the Finnish and the Icelandic premier divisions.
The 2007-2008 edition was cancelled for financial reasons, but the board planned to resurrect the tournament for the 2008-2009 season. On 11 October 2008 it was announced that the 2008-09 season would not be held either, as the TV rights for the tournament had not been sold.
There were however plans for a tournament in 2010, but under a new name; Royal Cup.
For the Royal League 2004-05 tournament, the twelve participating teams were initially placed into three groups. The two best-placed teams from each country were placed in the same group, while the two other teams were placed in the two other groups. In each group, each team played against the other three teams, home and away. The two best-placed teams of each group were randomly placed into two new groups. The three teams of each new group played each other, home and away. The 2005 Royal League Final was contested on 26 May 2005, by Swedish team IFK Gothenburg and FC Copenhagen from Denmark. FC Copenhagen won the title following a penalty shootout.
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