2008–09 Lebanese Premier League

The 2008–09 Lebanese Premier League is the 49th season of Lebanon's football league. The league kicked off on October 11, 2008, Safa SC defeated Salam Zgharta at the opener. In that game, Mohammad Kassas scored the first goal of the season for Safa.

Lebanese Premier League
Season2008–09
ChampionsAl Nejmeh
RelegatedSalam Zgharta
Tripoli SC
Goals scored288
Top goalscorer Salih Sadir (27)
Biggest home winNejmeh 2–0 Shabab Al-Ghazieh
Biggest away winTadamon Sour 1–4 Al-Mabarrah
Highest scoringTadamon Sour 1–4 Al-Mabarrah

Al Ahed is the defending champion. Salam Zgharta and Shahab Al-Ghazieh promoted from the second division.

Prior to the start, Tripoli SC announced its withdrawal due to several problems. Lebanese Football Federation confirmed the withdrawal on October 9, the league is going to resume with 11 teams.

Due to the restructuring of Asian competitions, Lebanese teams were entered into the AFC Cup. The Arab Champions League on the other hand would not be played.

Teams

Al-Irshad and Al-Ahli Sidon were relegated to the second level of Lebanese football after ending the 2007–08 season in the bottom two places. Promoted from the second level were Salam Zgharta and Shabab Al-Ghazieh.

Stadia and Locations
Beirut
Tyre
Tripoli
Sidon
Zgharta
Locations of teams in the 2008–09 Lebanese Premier League
Club City Stadium
Al Ahed Beirut Municipal Stadium
Al Ansar Beirut Sports City
Nejmeh Beirut Sports City
Al Mabarrah Beirut Municipal Stadium
Safa Sporting Club Beirut Safa Stadium
Shabab Al-Sahel Beirut Municipal Stadium
Tripoli SC Tripoli Olympic Stadium
Tadamon Sour Tyre Sour Stadium
Racing Beirut Beirut Fouad Shehab Stadium
Hekmeh FC Beirut Fouad Shehab Stadium
Salam Zgharta Zgharta Zgharta Stadium
Shabab Al-Ghazieh Sidon Saida International Stadium

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Replaced by
Al Ansar Roy Thomas Sacked[1] Jamal Taha

Final standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Nejmeh 20 16 2 2 44 14 +30 50 2010 AFC Cup qualification
2 Al Ahed 20 15 4 1 45 22 +23 49 2010 AFC Cup qualification as cup winners
3 Safa SC 20 12 4 4 35 15 +20 40
4 Al-Ansar 20 10 6 4 25 17 +8 36
5 Shabab Al-Sahel 20 7 9 4 29 26 +3 30
6 Al-Mabarrah 20 6 8 6 24 21 +3 26
7 Racing Beirut 20 5 4 11 19 25 −6 19
8 Tadamon Sour 20 4 3 13 20 37 −17 15
9 Hekmeh FC 20 3 5 12 14 30 −16 14
10 Shabab Al-Ghazieh 20 4 2 14 19 37 −18 14
11 Salam Zgharta 20 2 5 13 14 44 −30 11 Relegation to the Lebanese Second Division
12 Tripoli SC 0 - - - - - — 0[lower-alpha 1]
Source:
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head; 3rd goal difference; 4th goals scored
Notes:
  1. Tripoli SC withdraw from the league. On October 14, 2008, the Lebanese Federation decided that Tripoli is going to relegate in the second league. Furthermore, the club was fined 15 million Lebanese Pounds for its withdrawal.

Top scorers
Rank Name Club Goals
1 Salih Sadir Al-Ahed 27
2 Mohammad Kassas Safa 16
3 Ahmad Jaradi Shabab Al-Sahel 8
4 Ali Nasseredine Nejmeh 7
5 Akram Moghrabi Nejmeh 6
Tomi Jyakomilli Nejmeh 6
6 Zakaria Charara Nejmeh 5

References
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