2009–10 Liga Bet
# 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 (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

### Format changes

* 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**

* Maccabi Ironi Jatt, Maccabi Umm al-Fahm, Shimshon Bnei Tayibe and Tzafririm Holon won their divisions the previous season were promoted to Liga Alef, along with best runner-up, Amishav Petah Tikva.
* Beitar Ihud Mashhad (to North B division) and Ironi Ramla (to South B division) were relegated from Liga Alef to Liga Bet.

**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**

* Hapoel Karmiel merged with Beitar Safed from Liga Alef to form F.C. Karmiel Safed, which took Beitar Safed's place in Liga Alef.
* Bnei Abu Snan, which was relegated at the end of the previous season, folded.

**To/from Liga Gimel**

* Beitar Kafr Kana, Maccabi Sha'ab, Hapoel Deir el-Asad, Maccabi Or Yehuda, Hapoel Hod HaSharon, Hapoel F.C. Hevel Modi'in and Hapoel Jaljulia finished bottom and were relegated to Liga Gimel.
* Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum and Maccabi Acre were promoted from Liga Gimel Upper Galilee to North A division.
* Maccabi Ahi Iksal, Hapoel Bnei Musmus/Ma'ale Iron (from Liga Gimel Jezreel), Maccabi Or Akiva and Bnei Jisr az-Zarqa (from Liga Gimel Shomron) were promoted to North B division
* Hapoel Bik'at HaYarden, Beitar Petah Tikva (from Liga Gimel Sharon), Hapoel Kiryat Ono and Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa (from Liga Gimel Tel Aviv) were promoted to South A division.
* Hapoel Rahat and F.C. Kiryat Gat were promoted from Liga Gimel Central to South B division.

## North A Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Ahi Acre | 30 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 66 | 25 | +41 | 69 | Promoted to Liga Alef |
| 2 | Hapoel Kafr Sumei | 30 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 69 | 28 | +41 | 65 | Promotion play-offs |
| 3 | Beitar Nahariya | 30 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 72 | 31 | +41 | 64 | Promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Hapoel Sakhnin | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 49 | 38 | +11 | 52 | Promotion play-offs |
| 5 | Hapoel Ahva Haifa | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 58 | 36 | +22 | 50 | Promotion play-offs |
| 6 | Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 41 | 35 | +6 | 47 | |
| 7 | Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 35 | 37 | −2 | 44 | |
| 8 | F.C. Ahva Kafr Manda | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 39 | 45 | −6 | 39 | |
| 9 | F.C. Tzeirei Bir al-Maksur | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 31 | 48 | −17 | 39 | |
| 10 | Maccabi Acre | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 44 | 46 | −2 | 38 | |
| 11 | Hapoel Kaukab | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 41 | 37 | +4 | 37 | |
| 12 | Hapoel Nahariya | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 36 | 47 | −11 | 33 | Relegation play-offs |
| 13 | Beitar Haifa | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 46 | 52 | −6 | 30 | Relegation play-offs |
| 14 | Maccabi Kabul | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 32 | 58 | −26 | 27 | Relegation play-offs |
| 15 | Maccabi Kafr Sumei | 30 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 41 | 72 | −31 | 26 | Relegation play-offs |
| 16 | Hapoel Halat el-Sharif Tamra | 30 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 22 | 87 | −65 | 1 | Relegated to Liga Gimel |

* ↑ 6 points deducted

## North B Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel | 30 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 92 | 29 | +63 | 76 | Promoted to Liga Alef |
| 2 | Hapoel Iksal | 30 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 63 | 32 | +31 | 60 | Promotion play-offs |
| 3 | Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megido | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 69 | 37 | +32 | 56 | Promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Maccabi Ahi Iksal | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 47 | Promotion play-offs |
| 5 | Hapoel Isfiya | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 46 | 44 | +2 | 43 | Promotion play-offs |
| 6 | Maccabi Or Akiva | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 48 | 50 | −2 | 42 | |
| 7 | Hapoel Ar'ara | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 52 | 77 | −25 | 40 | |
| 8 | Hapoel Umm al-Ghanam/Nein | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 58 | 55 | +3 | 39 | |
| 9 | Maccabi Beit She'an | 30 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 61 | 69 | −8 | 38 | |
| 10 | Ihud Bnei Baqa | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 47 | 54 | −7 | 37 | |
| 11 | Bnei Jisr az-Zarqa | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 51 | 67 | −16 | 35 | |
| 12 | Hapoel Migdal HaEmek | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 33 | 45 | −12 | 34 | Relegation play-offs |
| 13 | Hapoel Beit She'an/Mesilot | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 37 | 57 | −20 | 34 | Relegation play-offs |
| 14 | Maccabi Barta'a | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 42 | 49 | −7 | 31 | Relegation play-offs |
| 15 | Beitar Ihud Mashhad | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 37 | 51 | −14 | 27 | Relegation play-offs |
| 16 | Hapoel Bnei Musmus/Ma'ale Iron | 30 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 30 | 61 | −31 | 22 | Relegated to Liga Gimel |

* 1 2 1 point deducted?
* 1 2 As ranking in Liga Bet is not set by any other criteria other than points, a match was played between Hapoel Migdal HaEmek and Hapoel Beit She'an/Mesilot to determine which club will be ranked 12th and which will be ranked 13th. In the match, played on 4 May 2010 in a neutral venue, Afula Illit Stadium, Hapoel Migdal HaEmek won 4–1 and was ranked 12th.
* ↑ 6 points deducted

## South A Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Maccabi Jaffa | 30 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 61 | 17 | +44 | 74 | Promoted to Liga Alef |
| 2 | Hapoel Azor | 30 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 66 | 20 | +46 | 64 | Promotion play-offs |
| 3 | F.C. Kafr Qasim | 30 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 68 | 20 | +48 | 60 | Promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Hapoel Kiryat Ono | 30 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 54 | 32 | +22 | 55 | Promotion play-offs |
| 5 | Maccabi HaSharon Netanya | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 44 | 48 | −4 | 44 | Promotion play-offs |
| 6 | Ironi Or Yehuda | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 43 | |
| 7 | Beitar Ramat Gan | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 44 | 28 | +16 | 43 | |
| 8 | Hapoel Bik'at HaYarden | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 37 | 36 | +1 | 41 | |
| 9 | Hapoel Pardesiya | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 37 | 48 | −11 | 37 | |
| 10 | Shikun Vatikim Ramat Gan | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 37 | 50 | −13 | 37 | |
| 11 | F.C. Bnei Jaffa | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 39 | 42 | −3 | 36 | |
| 12 | Hapoel Mahane Yehuda | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 30 | 48 | −18 | 36 | Relegation play-offs |
| 13 | Beitar Petah Tikva | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 27 | 51 | −24 | 29 | Relegation play-offs |
| 14 | Ortodoxim Jaffa | 30 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 49 | −25 | 25 | Relegation play-offs |
| 15 | Otzma F.C. Holon | 30 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 21 | 44 | −23 | 23 | Relegation play-offs |
| 16 | Hapoel Ramat Israel | 30 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 29 | 99 | −70 | 14 | Relegated to Liga Gimel |

* 1 2 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

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Bnei Eilat | 30 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 72 | 16 | +56 | 73 | Promoted to Liga Alef |
| 2 | Ironi Ramla | 30 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 58 | 27 | +31 | 59 | Promotion play-offs |
| 3 | Mo'adon Tzeirei Rahat | 30 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 55 | 32 | +23 | 54 | Promotion play-offs |
| 4 | F.C. Dimona | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 53 | Promotion play-offs |
| 5 | Ortodoxim Lod | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 56 | 46 | +10 | 52 | Promotion play-offs |
| 6 | F.C. Shikun HaMizrach | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 54 | 40 | +14 | 50 | |
| 7 | Beitar Ma'ale Adumim | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 46 | 20 | +26 | 50 | |
| 8 | F.C. Kiryat Gat | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 42 | 51 | −9 | 40 | |
| 9 | Hapoel Merhavim | 30 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 55 | 57 | −2 | 38 | |
| 10 | F.C. Be'er Sheva | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 33 | 38 | −5 | 38 | |
| 11 | Maccabi Sha'arayim | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 28 | 45 | −17 | 36 | |
| 12 | Beitar Giv'at Ze'ev | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 42 | 46 | −4 | 33 | Relegation play-offs |
| 13 | Maccabi Sderot | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 37 | 50 | −13 | 33 | Relegation play-offs |
| 14 | Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov | 30 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 42 | 67 | −25 | 25 | Relegation play-offs |
| 15 | Hapoel Rahat | 30 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 33 | 66 | −33 | 19 | Relegation play-offs |
| 16 | Hapoel Tirat Shalom | 30 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 27 | 92 | −65 | 18 | Relegated to Liga Gimel |

* ↑ 1 point deducted?

## 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.

**North A division**

**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.

**North B division**

**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.

**South A division**

**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.

**South B division**

**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.

