2009–10 Liga Bet


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, Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel, Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa and Bnei Eilat 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, Hapoel Bnei Musmus/Ma'ale Iron, Hapoel Ramat Israel and Hapoel Tirat Shalom 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, Beitar Ihud Mashhad, Otzma F.C. Holon and Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov dropped to Liga Gimel as well.

Changes from last season

Format changes

  • Promotion play-offs were re-introduced. Clubs ranked 2nd to 5th entered the play-offs, playing each other 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, 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

Merging and folding clubs

To/from Liga Gimel

South B Division

Promotion play-offs

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.

Promotion play-off match

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.

Promotion play-off match

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.