The 2024–25 Czech First League, known as the Chance Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the 32nd season of the Czech Republic's top-tier football for professional clubs since its establishment, in 1993. Sparta Prague are the reigning champions. The season is scheduled to start in July 2024. The first half of the season will have 19 rounds, finishing in December, and the other half will commence in February 2025. The season is expected to end on 25 May 2025 with two extra play-out fixtures on 29 May and 1 June 2025.[1]
Format
Starting with the 2024–25 season, the league will be called "Chance Liga" after its new main sponsor, Chance betting office.[2] The general season format is unchanged from last season, each team will play in the league format home and away matches. The lowest-ranked team will be relegated directly to the second league, and the two teams positioned 14th and 15th will play a play-out with two teams from the second league positioned 2nd and 3rd in a home and away format. The change is the cancellation of the Conference League play-off final between the 5th and 7th teams in the table. The winner of the middle group (i.e. the team placed 7th) will only receive a financial bonus.[3]
This will be the seventh season to use VAR, featuring it in all matches played. The VAR central workplace in Prague 4-Michle will be used for the first time. VAR will have offside line technology available for the first time.[4]
In the 2024–25 season, three new rules were introduced. Teams will be able to use a sixth substitution if there is a head injury or concussion. The punishment of a player in a situation where a player spoils a clear scoring opportunity with his hand will be changed, and only a yellow card will be awarded instead of a red card. The assessment of premature running of players into the penalty area during a penalty will also change.[5]
Other changes concern the dates of matches, which is partly due to the new format of the European competitions. The spring part will start a week earlier than in previous years (on 1 February) and the exact dates of the matches will be determined further in advance than three weeks, as has been the case so far.[1]
A total of sixteen teams contest the league, including thirteen sides from the 2023–24 season, the winner of last season's second league, and two winners of the play-out, determined on 2 June.
Updated to match(es) played on 1 February 2025. Source: Chance Liga Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play ranking; 8) Draw. (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played)[39]
Updated to match(es) played on 1 February 2025. Source: Chance Liga Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
