Fiji Premier League

Founded	1977; 47 years ago (1977)
Country	Fiji
Confederation	OFC
Number of teams	10
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	Fiji Senior League
Domestic cup(s)	FF Cup Champion versus Champion
International cup(s)	OFC Champions League
Current champions	Lautoka (7th title) (2023)
Most championships	Ba (21 titles)
TV partners	FBC[1]
Website	fijifootball.com.fj
Current: 2024 Fiji Premier League

The Fiji Premier League or the FPL, also called Digicel Premier League for sponsorship reasons,^[2] is the top division men's professional football league in Fiji. Contested by ten teams, it shares a promotion and relegation system with the Fiji Senior League (FSL). The League is controlled by the Fiji Football Association.

The league was founded as the Fiji National League in 1977 by the Fiji Football Association which was won by Ba. The club that has the most championships is also Ba with 21 titles.

History

Foundation (1977)

In 1977, the Fiji National League (FNL) was founded. The first ever season was won by Ba.

Sponsorship deals

Since 2016, the league has been called the Vodafone Premier League after a sponsorship deal with Vodafone Fiji.^[3] On March 3, 2021, Digicel Fiji signed a 3 year deal to sponsor the league, effectively renaming the competition to the Digicel Premier League.^[4]

Competition format

Competition

There are 10 clubs in the Fiji Premier League. During the course of a season, each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponent's home. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank.

Promotion and relegation

A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Fiji Premier League and the Senior League. The last placed team in the Fiji Premier League are relegated to the Senior League, and the first placed team from the North and South zones of Senior League are promoted to the Fiji Premier League.

Format

From the inaugural 1977 season to the 2021 season, the Fiji Premier League had eight teams. However, since 2022, the league has had 10 teams.

Since 2016, the league has practiced promotion and relegation. Each season, the team that finishes last is relegated to the Senior League. The Senior League has two zones: the Vanua Levu Zone and the Viti Levu Zone. The highest-finishing clubs from each zone compete in a playoff match, the winner of which is promoted to the Premier League.

The season champion and runners-up both qualify for the OFC Champions League.

Clubs

Current clubs

Tailevu

Rewa

Ba

Nadi

Lautoka

Nadroga

Labasa

Nasinu

Navua

Suva

Location of the 2024 Digicel Premier League season.

Champions

League Championship (for Districts)

Previous winners

National Club Championship

• 1986: Tanoa SC (Nadi)
• 1987–88: Not known
• 1989: Combine Stars SC (Suva) 1–0 Vunika (Labasa)
• 1990: Not known
• 1991: Ba FSC
• 1992: Greenstars 1–0 Ba FSC
• 1993: Lautoka General
• 1994–95: Not known
• 1996: Lautoka General Strikers
• 1997: Ba FSC
• 1998: Raymonds (Rewa) 1–1 Fiji Sugar Corporation (Raymonds on pens)
• 1999: Kiwi Sports (Labasa) 2–0 KK Nadi Blues
• 2000: Foodtown Warriors (Lautoka) 1–0 Nadi Eagles
• 2001–03: Not held
• 2003–04: Not known
• 2005: General Machinery (Lautoka) 1–0 Malolo (Nadi)
• 2006: General Machinery (Lautoka) 1–1 United (Rewa) (aet, 4–1 pen)
• 2007–08: Kriz Signs Uciwai (Nadi) 2–1 United (Rewa)

Club Franchise League

• 2005: 4R Electric Ltd (Ba)
• 2006: Nokia Eagles (Nadi)

Topscorers

Year	Best scorers	Team	Goals
2001	Lorima Batirerega	Ba FC	7
2003	Keni Doidoi	Ba FC	8
2006	Josaia Bukalidi Jr	Ba FC	23
2007	Maciu Dunadamu	Labasa FC	17
2008	Roy Krishna	Labasa FC	31
2009	Keni Doidoi	Lautoka FC	12
2017	Joel Shelvin Prasad	Labasa FC	10
2018	Rusiate Matarerega	Nadi FC	8
2019	Samuela Drudru	Lautoka FC	12
2020	Sairusi Nalaubu	Suva	9
2021	Sairusi Nalaubu	Lautoka	9
2022	Sairusi Nalaubu	Lautoka	12
2023	Sairusi Nalaubu	Lautoka	19

Most time goalscorers

• 4 times
  • Sairusi Nalaubu (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Most goals by a player in a single season

• 31 goals
  • Roy Krishna (2008)

Multiple hat-tricks

Rank	Country	Player	Hat-tricks
1		Brian Charitau	1
		Atkin Kaua
		Sairusi Nalaubu
		Mohammed Shazil
		Azariah Soromon
		Avinesh Suwamy
		Saula Waqa
		Christopher Wasasala