2009–10 Qatar Stars League

The 2009–10 Qatar Stars League season was the 37th edition of top-level football championship in Qatar, which started in September 2009 and ended in April 2010.

League expansion

Qatar Stars League slowly expanded since the turn of the decade, moving from 9 to 10 clubs and then latest setup of 12 clubs for this season campaign.
There are 2 divisions in the Qatari football structure and the league has previously seen one club promoted and relegated each year except in 'expansion' years.
It was announced on 15 April 2009 that no clubs would be relegated from the top flight in the 2008–09 [Qatar Stars League|last season], due to expansion reasons. The announcement was made with only one game remaining.
The expansion benefitted relegated Al Kharaitiyat, who would stay in the first division, and would be joined by two second division clubs Al Ahli [SC (Doha)|Al Ahli] and Al-Shamal, bringing the number up to 12.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said the expansion would help in improving league action, which was also curtailed to two rounds instead of the prevailing system where the teams played each other three times.