2002 Belarusian Premier League


The 2002 Belarusian Premier League was the 12th season of top-tier football in Belarus. It started on April 12 and ended on November 8, 2002. Belshina Bobruisk were the defending champions.

Team changes from 2001 season

Teams finished on the last two places in 2001 – Naftan Novopolotsk and Vedrich-97 Rechytsa relegated to the First League. They were replaced by 2001 First League winners Torpedo Zhodino and the newcomers, First League runners-up Zvezda-VA-BGU Minsk. Neman-Belcard Grodno changed their name back to Neman Grodno.

Overview

[FC FC BATE Borisov|BATE Borisov|BATE Borisov] and Neman Grodno finished the season with equal number of points and advanced to the Championship Play-Off. BATE won the play-off game and became the champions for the 2nd time. They qualified for the next season's Champions League. Neman Grodno and 2002–03 Cup winners Dinamo Minsk qualified for UEFA Cup. Due to Premiere League expansion from 14 to 16 teams starting with next season, only one lowest placed team have relegated.

Teams and venues

TeamLocationVenueCapacityPosition in 2001
BelshinaBobruiskSpartak Stadium (Bobruisk)5,8001
Dinamo MinskMinskDinamo Stadium (Minsk)40,0002
BATEBorisovCity Stadium (Borisov)5,5003
NemanGrodnoNeman Stadium14,0004
ShakhtyorSoligorskStroitel Stadium5,0005
GomelGomelLuch Stadium5,0006
SlaviaMozyrYunost Stadium5,2507
Torpedo-MAZMinskTorpedo Stadium (Minsk)5,2008
Dnepr-TransmashMogilevSpartak Stadion (Mogilev)5,7009
Molodechno-2000MolodechnoCity Stadium (Molodechno)5,65010
Dinamo BrestBrestOSK Brestskiy3,00011
Lokomotiv-96VitebskDinamo Stadium (Vitebsk)8,25012
TorpedoZhodinoTorpedo Stadium (Zhodino)5,000First league, 1
Zvezda-VA-BGUMinskTraktor Stadium17,000First league, 2