Country | Turkey |
---|---|
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) |
Founded | 1967-68 |
Level on pyramid | 4 |
Promotion to | 2. Lig |
Relegation to | RAL |
2016–17 season |
TFF Third League (Turkish Football Federation Third League) or TFF 3. Lig (in Turkish), is the fourth level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in 2001–02 season as a continuation of then third level division Turkish Third Football League. 2010–11 is the 10th season of the league. In its tenth season the league was named Spor-Toto Third League due to sponsorship.
Turkish Third Football League (in Turkish: Türkiye Üçüncü Futbol Ligi or shortly Üçüncü Lig or 3. Lig) is a defunct football league in Turkey. It has been the third level division in Turkish football since its foundation in 1967–68 until the formation of new league system in 2001-02, except for a period of four seasons during coup d'etat in Turkey. Turkish Third Football League continued as TFF Third League in the new league system after 2001, but this time in the fourth layer. Third level of Turkish League was renamed first TFF Second League Category A, later TFF Second League. A comparison of new and old league systems can be seen in "see also" section of this article.
Since 2010-–11 season status of the league has been changed. League is played with 54 teams in three groups, 18 in each. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom three teams in each group are relegated to Turkish Regional Amateur League.
1967–68 Turkish Third Football League season
League was founded in 1967–68. In the first year 17 teams attended. Two teams relegated from Turkish Second Football League: Beyoğluspor, Davutpaşa. Tekirdağspor, Çanakkalespor, Çorumspor, Elazığspor, Muğlaspor, Düzcespor, Eskişehir Demirspor, Kırıkkalespor, Nazillispor, Konya İdman Yurdu, Tarsus İdman Yurdu, Ceyhanspor, Lüleburgazspor, Tekirdağspor, İskenderunspor, and Hatayspor were other teams whose applications were accepted by TFF. At the end of the season winner promoted to TFF Second League, no team relegated.