The Mumbai Football League, also known as the Harwood League, is organised by Mumbai Football Association (MFA), as a ladder-based competition involving a total of five divisions and over 300 teams. It is the top football league in

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

and the second-oldest football league in

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

after Calcutta Football League. The league was named after

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Harwood who founded the Bombay Football Association and became first president.

Structure

Mumbai Premier League

Mumbai Premier League, formerly known as the ''MFA Elite Division or MDFA Elite Division'', is the first tier of the Mumbai Football League competition. In March 2022, the Mumbai Premier League was rechristened as the ''Harwood Premier League'', on the lines of the name that was once associated with the Mumbai's top division football, stretching back to 1902.

Mumbai Super League

The Mumbai Super League, formerly known as the MFA Super Division or MDFA Super Division, is the second tier of the Mumbai Football League competition, organized by the Mumbai District Football Association. The top two teams from super six of the Mumbai Super League get promoted to the Mumbai Premier League. The last-place teams in the groups get relegated to the First Division. It is contested by 37 clubs. The current champions are Mumbai City U19 and India on Track are runners-up.

Format

All the 37 teams are divided into three groups. Two groups with 12 teams and one with 13. The top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs (super six). The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round. The top two teams at the end of the league will be promoted to the Mumbai Premier League.

First Division Championship

# All the teams in the division will be divided into five groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games. # The top two teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs. # The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round. # The team standing first and second after the completion of the round-robin playoff league shall be declared the winner and runner-up and will be promoted to the Super Division. # The teams in last place in each group after the completion of the preliminary league will be demoted to the Division Two.

Second Division Championship

# All the teams in the division will be divided into six or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games. # The top two teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs. # The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round. # The post season playoffs will include a league phase followed by a single-leg knock out format to decide who will contest the Division Two final. # All eight quarter-finalists will be promoted to the Division One

Third Division Championship

# All the teams in the division will be divided into eight or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games. # The top two/three teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs. # The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round. # The post season playoffs will include a league phase followed by a single-leg knock out format to decide who will contest the Division Three final.

Champions of the top division

References

External links

* of the Mumbai Football Association {{Sports leagues of India Regional Football leagues in India Mumbai Football League League Football in Maharashtra 1902 establishments in India Recurring sporting events established in 1902