Israeli football season
The 2009–10 Liga Bet season was the first season since the 1998–99 Liga Bet season, in which Liga Bet regained its status as the fourth tier of Israeli football , due to the closure of Liga Artzit .
Ahi Acre (champions of the North A division), Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel (champions of the North B division), Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa (champions of the South A division) and Bnei Eilat (champions of the South B division) won the title and promotion to Liga Alef .
The clubs ranked 2nd to 5th in each division entered a promotion play-off, at the end of which, in the North section Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megido won against Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi from Liga Alef North and was promoted to Liga Alef , while in the South section, Ironi Ramla lost to Shimshon Bnei Tayibe from Liga Alef South and failed to gain promotion.
At the bottom, Hapoel Halat el-Sharif Tamra (from North A division), Hapoel Bnei Musmus/Ma'ale Iron (from North B division), Hapoel Ramat Israel (from South A division) and Hapoel Tirat Shalom (from South B division) all finished bottom and were all automatically relegated to Liga Gimel .
The clubs ranked 12th to 15th in each division entered a relegation play-off, at the end of which Maccabi Kabul (from North A division), Beitar Ihud Mashhad (from North B division), Otzma F.C. Holon (from South A division) and Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov (from South B division) dropped to Liga Gimel as well.
Changes from last season
Promotion play-offs were re-introduced. Clubs ranked 2nd to 5th entered the play-offs, playing each other (2nd against 5th and 3rd against 4th) in the first round, and the winners battling each other in the second round. In the third round the North A and North B winners played each other, as well as the South A and South B winners, each winner then playing the 14th ranked club in Liga Alef for a spot in next season's Liga Alef.
Relegation play-offs were introduced. Clubs ranked 12th to 15th entered the play-offs, first playing each other (12th against 15th and 13th against 14th), and then both matches' losers facing each other, with the losing team in this match dropping to Liga Gimel .
Team changes
To/from Liga Alef
Intra-divisional movements
The North division were re-aligned again, moving Beitar Haifa , Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha , Maccabi Kafr Sumei , F.C. Ahva Kafr Manda , Hapoel Halat el-Sharif Tamra , Maccabi Kabul and Hapoel Nahariya from North B to North A, while Hapoel Iksal , Hapoel Isfiya , Hapoel Ar'ara and Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megido were moved from North A to North B.
Hapoel Kvalim Mesilot changed its name to Hapoel Beit She'an/Mesilot, and was moved from North A division to North B division.
Merging and folding clubs
To/from Liga Gimel
North A Division
North B Division
South A Division
^ a b As ranking in Liga Bet is not set by any other criteria other than points, a match was played between F.C. Bnei Jaffa and Hapoel Mahane Yehuda to determine which club will be ranked 11th and which will be ranked 12th and will enter the relegation play-offs. In the match, played on 4 May 2010 in a neutral venue, Hapoel Tzafririm Holon ground, F.C. Bnei Jaffa won 2–1 and was ranked 11th.
South B Division
North divisions
North A division
Semi-finals
Hapoel Kafr Sumei and Beitar Nahariya advanced to the North A division promotion play-offs final.
Final
Hapoel Kafr Sumei advanced to the North regional final.
North B division
Semi-finals
Hapoel Iksal and Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megido advanced to the North B division promotion play-offs final.
Final
Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megido advanced to the North regional final.
North Regional final
Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megido advanced to the promotion play-off match against Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi from Liga Alef .
Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megido promoted to Liga Alef ; Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi relegated to Liga Bet .
South divisions
South A division
Semi-finals
Hapoel Azor and Hapoel Kiryat Ono advanced to the South A division promotion play-offs final.
Final
Hapoel Azor advanced to the South regional final.
South B division
Semi-finals
Ironi Ramla and Moadon Tzeirei Rahat advanced to the South B division promotion play-offs final.
Final
Ironi Ramla advanced to the South Regional final.
South Regional final
Ironi Ramla advanced to the promotion play-off match against Shimshon Bnei Tayibe from Liga Alef .
Shimshon Bnei Tayibe remained in Liga Alef ; Ironi Ramla remained in Liga Bet .
Relegation play-offs
North A division
Semi-finals
Beitar Haifa and Hapoel Nahariya remained in Liga Bet . Maccabi Kabul and Maccabi Kafr Sumei qualified for the North A division relegation play-off final.
Final
Maccabi Kafr Sumei remained in Liga Bet . Maccabi Kabul relegated to Liga Gimel .
North B division
Semi-finals
Hapoel Migdal HaEmek and Maccabi Barta'a remained in Liga Bet . Beitar Ihud Mashhad and Hapoel Beit She'an/Mesilot qualified for the North B division relegation play-off final.
Final
Hapoel Beit She'an/Mesilot remained in Liga Bet . Beitar Ihud Mashhad relegated to Liga Gimel .
South A division
Semi-finals
Beitar Petah Tikva and Hapoel Mahane Yehuda remained in Liga Bet . Hapoel F.C. Ortodoxim Jaffa and Otzma F.C. Holon qualified for the South A division relegation play-off final.
Final
Hapoel F.C. Ortodoxim Jaffa remained in Liga Bet . Otzma F.C. Holon relegated to Liga Gimel .
South B division
Semi-finals
Maccabi Sderot and Hapoel Rahat remained in Liga Bet . Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov and Beitar Giv'at Zeev qualified for the South B division relegation play-off final.
Final
Beitar Giv'at Zeev remained in Liga Bet . Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov relegated to Liga Gimel .
References
[1] The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)
[2] The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)
[3] The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)
[4] The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)
North A North B South A South B Seasons(fourth level)
Domestic leagues
Domestic cups European competitions Transfers Related to national team