Royal League: Difference between revisions

Royal League
Founded	2004
Abolished	2007
Region	Scandinavia
Number of teams	12
Last champions	Brøndby IF
Most successful club(s)	F.C. Copenhagen (2 titles)

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The Royal League was an annual Scandinavian football tournament held three times between teams from the three Scandinavian monarchies (Denmark, Sweden, and Norway), starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. Denmark, however, was in mid-season when the tournament started. The four best-placed teams in the football leagues of Denmark, Norway and Sweden participate in the tournament.

There was discussion of expanding the league, and include the winners of Veikkausliiga and Landsbankadeild, which are the Finnish and the Icelandic premier divisions.

The 2007–08 edition was cancelled for financial reasons.^[1]

History

For the 2004–05 Royal League tournament, the twelve participating teams were initially placed into three groups. The two best-placed teams from each country were placed in the same group, while the two other teams were placed in the two other groups. In each group, each team played against the other three teams, home and away. The two best-placed teams of each group were randomly placed into two new groups. The three teams of each new group played each other, home and away. The 2005 Royal League Final was contested on 26 May 2005, by Swedish team IFK Gothenburg and FC Copenhagen from Denmark. FC Copenhagen won the title following a penalty shootout.

In the second season of the tournament, the twelve participating teams were also divided into three preliminary groups. The two best-placed teams of each group, and the two best third-placed teams went on to play quarterfinals. The rest of the tournament was played in a knockout-system. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were played both at home and away, while there was only a single final game to decide the winner. The 2006 Royal League Final was contested on 6 April 2006, by FC Copenhagen and Lillestrøm from Norway. FC Copenhagen won their second title, when Razak Pimpong scored to 1–0 in the last minutes of the game.

For the 2006–07 Royal League tournament, the structure of initial group stage and subsequent knockout-stage was kept. As opposed to the previous edition of the tournament, the knock-out stages were played as single games, with the team having the best group stage record earning home field advantage. The 2007 Royal League Final was contested on 15 March 2007, by Danish team Brøndby IF and FC Copenhagen. Brøndby won 1–0, on a penalty kick converted by Martin Ericsson.

The league has received quite a lot of criticism since the first season. The teams rarely bother to play with their best side, and this leads to a lack of interest. Raising the award money and/or giving direct place in the UEFA Champions League have been suggested as ways to improve the situation.^{[citation needed]}

The 2007–08 edition was cancelled for financial reasons, but the board planned to resurrect the tournament for the 2008–09 season.^[2] On 11 October 2008 it was announced that the 2008–09 season would not be held either, as the TV rights for the tournament had not been sold.^[3]

There were however plans for a tournament in 2010, but under a new name; Royal Cup.^[4]

Finals

List of Royal League finals
Season	Winners	Nation	Score	Runners-up	Nation	Venue	Attendance	Date
2004–05	Copenhagen	Denmark	1–1, (11–10 pen)	Göteborg	Sweden	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	10,216	Thu, 26 May 2005
2005–06	Copenhagen	Denmark	1–0	Lillestrøm	Norway	Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark	13,617	Thu, 6 April 2006
2006–07	Brøndby	Denmark	1–0	Copenhagen	Denmark	Brøndby Stadion, Brøndby, Denmark	17,914	Thu, 15 March 2007

All-time table by country

Country	Titles	Runners-up
Denmark	3	1
Norway	0	1
Sweden	0	1

References

^ "Inget Royal league i vinter" (Svenska Dagbladet, 11 December 2007)
^ "Inget Royal league i vinter" (Svenska Dagbladet, 11 December 2007)
^ "Ny time-out til Royal League" (Danish Football Union, 11 October 2008)
^ "Fem danske hold i Royal Cup" (Bold.dk, 19 February 2009)

External links

[1] "Inget Royal league i vinter" (Svenska Dagbladet, 11 December 2007)

[2] "Inget Royal league i vinter" (Svenska Dagbladet, 11 December 2007)

[3] "Ny time-out til Royal League" (Danish Football Union, 11 October 2008)

[4] "Fem danske hold i Royal Cup" (Bold.dk, 19 February 2009)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Infobox football tournament
-{| class="infobox football" style="width: 16em; text-align: center;"
+| logo                 = [[File:Royal League.png|200px]]
-|-
+| organiser            =
-! style="font-size: 16px;" | Royal League
+| founded              = 2004
-|-
+| abolished            = 2007
-| style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;" | [[Image:Royal League.png|200px]]
+| number of teams      = 12
-|-
+| region               = [[Scandinavia]]
-| style="font-size: 12px; background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Founded'''
+| current champions    = [[Brøndby IF]]
-|-
+| most successful club = [[F.C. Copenhagen]] (2 titles)
-| style="font-size: 12px;" | 2004
+}}
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px; background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Continent'''
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px;" | [[Europe]] ([[UEFA]])
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px; background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Number of Teams'''
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px;" | '''12'''
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px; background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Current Champions ([[Royal League 2006-07|2006-07]])'''
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px;" | {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Brøndby IF]]
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px; background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Most successful club'''
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px;" | {{flagicon|DEN}} [[F.C. Copenhagen]]<br/>
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px; background: #BFD7FF;" | '''Website'''
-|-
-| style="font-size: 12px;" | [http://www.royalleague.com www.royalleague.com]
-|-
-|}
-The '''Royal League''' was an annual [[Scandinavia]]n [[football (soccer)|football]] tournament held three times between teams from the three Scandinavian monarchies ([[Denmark]], [[Sweden]], and [[Norway]]), starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. Denmark, however, are in mid-season when the tournament starts. The four best-placed teams in the football leagues of [[Danish Superliga|Denmark]], [[Norwegian Premier League|Norway]] and [[Allsvenskan|Sweden]] participate in the tournament.
+The '''Royal League''' was an annual [[Scandinavia]]n [[football (soccer)|football]] tournament held three times between teams from the three Scandinavian monarchies ([[Denmark]], [[Sweden]], and [[Norway]]), starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. Denmark, however, was in mid-season when the tournament started. The four best-placed teams in the football leagues of [[Danish Superliga|Denmark]], [[Norwegian Premier League|Norway]] and [[Allsvenskan|Sweden]] participate in the tournament.
 There was discussion of expanding the league, and include the winners of [[Veikkausliiga]] and
-[[Landsbankadeild]], which are the Finnish and the Icelandic premier divisions.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}}
+[[Landsbankadeild]], which are the Finnish and the Icelandic premier divisions.
-The 2007-2008 edition was cancelled for financial reasons, but the board planned to resurrect the tournament for the 2008-2009 season.<ref>[http://www.svd.se/sportspel/nyheter/artikel_677657.svd "Inget Royal league i vinter"] ([[Svenska Dagbladet]], 11 December 2007)</ref> On 11 October 2008 it was announced that the 2008-09 season would not be held either, as the TV rights for the tournament had not been sold.<ref>[http://www.dbu.dk/news/newsShow.aspx?id=248961 "Ny time-out til Royal League"] ([[Danish Football Association]], 11 October 2008)</ref>
+The 2007–08 edition was cancelled for financial reasons.<ref>[http://www.svd.se/sportspel/nyheter/artikel_677657.svd "Inget Royal league i vinter"] ([[Svenska Dagbladet]], 11 December 2007)</ref>
-{{update|date=May 2011}}There were however plans for a tournament in 2010, but under a new name; Royal Cup. These plans do also involve getting three more clubs to participate in the tournament, making the total number of participating clubs fifteen.<ref>
-[http://www.bold.dk/nyt/Fem-danske-hold-i-Royal-Cup "Fem danske hold i Royal Cup"] (Bold.dk, 19 February 2009)</ref>
 ==History==
-For the [[Royal League 2004-05]] tournament, the twelve participating teams were initially placed into three groups. The two best-placed teams from each country were placed in the same group, while the two other teams were placed in the two other groups. In each group, each team played against the other three teams, home and away. The two best-placed teams of each group were randomly placed into two new groups. The three teams of each new group played each other, home and away. The [[2005 Royal League Final]] was contested on 26 May 2005, by [[Sweden|Swedish]] team [[IFK Göteborg|IFK Gothenburg]] and [[F.C. Copenhagen|FC Copenhagen]] from [[Denmark]]. FC Copenhagen won the title following a [[Penalty shootout (football)|penalty shootout]].
+For the [[2004–05 Royal League]] tournament, the twelve participating teams were initially placed into three groups. The two best-placed teams from each country were placed in the same group, while the two other teams were placed in the two other groups. In each group, each team played against the other three teams, home and away. The two best-placed teams of each group were randomly placed into two new groups. The three teams of each new group played each other, home and away. The [[2005 Royal League Final]] was contested on 26 May 2005, by [[Sweden|Swedish]] team [[IFK Göteborg|IFK Gothenburg]] and [[F.C. Copenhagen|FC Copenhagen]] from [[Denmark]]. FC Copenhagen won the title following a [[Penalty shootout (football)|penalty shootout]].
-In the [[Royal League 2005-06|second season of the tournament]], the twelve participating teams were also divided into three preliminary groups. The two best-placed teams of each group, and the two best third-placed teams went on to play quarterfinals. The rest of the tournament was played in a knockout-system. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were played both at home and away, while there was only a single final game to decide the winner. The [[2006 Royal League Final]] was contested on 6 April 2006, by FC Copenhagen and [[Lillestrøm S.K.|Lillestrøm]] from Norway. FC Copenhagen won their second title, when [[Razak Pimpong]] scored to 1-0 in the last minutes of the game.
+In the [[2005–06 Royal League|second season of the tournament]], the twelve participating teams were also divided into three preliminary groups. The two best-placed teams of each group, and the two best third-placed teams went on to play quarterfinals. The rest of the tournament was played in a knockout-system. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were played both at home and away, while there was only a single final game to decide the winner. The [[2006 Royal League Final]] was contested on 6 April 2006, by FC Copenhagen and [[Lillestrøm S.K.|Lillestrøm]] from Norway. FC Copenhagen won their second title, when [[Razak Pimpong]] scored to 1–0 in the last minutes of the game.
-For the [[Royal League 2006-07]] tournament, the structure of initial group stage and subsequent knockout-stage was kept. As opposed to the previous edition of the tournament, the knock-out stages were played as single games, with the team having the best group stage record earning home field advantage. The [[2007 Royal League Final]] was contested on 15 March 2007, by [[Denmark|Danish]] team [[Brøndby IF]] and FC Copenhagen. Brøndby won 1-0, on a penalty kick converted by [[Martin Ericsson]].
+For the [[2006–07 Royal League]] tournament, the structure of initial group stage and subsequent knockout-stage was kept. As opposed to the previous edition of the tournament, the knock-out stages were played as single games, with the team having the best group stage record earning home field advantage. The [[2007 Royal League Final]] was contested on 15 March 2007, by [[Denmark|Danish]] team [[Brøndby IF]] and FC Copenhagen. Brøndby won 1–0, on a penalty kick converted by [[Martin Ericsson]].
 The league has received quite a lot of criticism since the first season. The teams rarely bother to play with their best side, and this leads to a lack of interest. Raising the award money and/or giving direct place in the [[UEFA Champions League]] have been suggested as ways to improve the situation.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}
+The 2007–08 edition was cancelled for financial reasons, but the board planned to resurrect the tournament for the 2008–09 season.<ref>[http://www.svd.se/sportspel/nyheter/artikel_677657.svd "Inget Royal league i vinter"] ([[Svenska Dagbladet]], 11 December 2007)</ref> On 11 October 2008 it was announced that the 2008–09 season would not be held either, as the TV rights for the tournament had not been sold.<ref>[http://www.dbu.dk/news/newsShow.aspx?id=248961 "Ny time-out til Royal League"] ([[Danish Football Union]], 11 October 2008)</ref>
+There were however plans for a tournament in 2010, but under a new name; Royal Cup.<ref>[http://www.bold.dk/nyt/Fem-danske-hold-i-Royal-Cup "Fem danske hold i Royal Cup"] (Bold.dk, 19 February 2009)</ref>
 == Finals ==
+{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
-{{clear}}
+|+List of Royal League finals
-{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; width: 90%; text-align: center;"
 |-
-!width=10%|Season
+!scope="col"|Season
+!scope="col"|Winners
-!width=15%|Winner
+!scope="col"|Nation
-!width=10%|Score
+!scope="col"|Score
-!width=15%|Runner-up
+!scope="col"|Runners-up
-!width=15%|Venue
+!scope="col"|Nation
-!width=10%|Attendance
+!scope="col"|Venue
-!width=20%|Date
+!scope="col"|Attendance
+!scope="col"|Date
 |-
-|[[Royal League 2004-05|2004-05]]
+!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|[[2004–05 Royal League|2004–05]]
-|{{flagicon|Denmark}} <br /> '''[[F.C. Copenhagen|FC Copenhagen]]'''
+|[[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]]
+|{{flagcountry|DEN}}
-|'''[[2005 Royal League Final|1–1]]''' <br />'''[[2005 Royal League Final|11–10]]''' ([[penalty shootout (football)|pen]])
+|align=center|[[2005 Royal League final|1–1, <small>(11–10 pen)</small>]]
-|{{flagicon|Sweden}} <br /> [[IFK Göteborg]]
+|[[IFK Göteborg|Göteborg]]
-|[[Ullevi]], <br /> [[Gothenburg]], <br /> [[Sweden]]
+|{{flagcountry|SWE}}
-|10,216
+|[[Ullevi]], [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]]
+|align=center|10,216
 |Thu, 26 May 2005
 |-
-|[[Royal League 2005-06|2005-06]]
+!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|[[2005–06 Royal League|2005–06]]
-|{{flagicon|Denmark}} <br /> '''[[F.C. Copenhagen|FC Copenhagen]]'''
+|[[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]]
+|{{flagcountry|DEN}}
-|'''[[2006 Royal League Final|1–0]]'''
+|align=center|[[2006 Royal League final|1–0]]
-|{{flagicon|Norway}} <br /> [[Lillestrøm S.K.|Lillestrøm SK]]
+|[[Lillestrøm S.K.|Lillestrøm]]
-|[[Parken]], <br /> [[Copenhagen]], <br /> [[Denmark]]
+|{{flagcountry|NOR}}
-|13,617
+|[[Parken]], [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]]
+|align=center|13,617
 |Thu, 6 April 2006
 |-
-|[[Royal League 2006-07|2006-07]]
+!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|[[2006–07 Royal League|2006–07]]
-|{{flagicon|Denmark}} <br/> '''[[Brøndby IF]]'''
+|[[Brøndby IF|Brøndby]]
+|{{flagcountry|DEN}}
-|'''[[2007 Royal League Final|1–0]]'''
+|align=center|[[2007 Royal League final|1–0]]
-|{{flagicon|Denmark}} <br/> [[F.C. Copenhagen|FC Copenhagen]]
+|[[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]]
-|[[Brøndby Stadion]],<br />[[Brøndby]],<br />[[Denmark]]
+|{{flagcountry|DEN}}
-|17,914
+|[[Brøndby Stadion]], [[Brøndby]], [[Denmark]]
+|align=center|17,914
 |Thu, 15 March 2007
 |}
 == All-time table by country ==
+{{See also|All-time Royal League statistics}}
-''See also: [[All-time Royal League statistics]]''
 {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
 |-
@@ Line 96: / Line 82: @@
 !width=75|Titles
 !width=75|Runners-up
+|- style="background:#cfc;"
-|- bgcolor=ccffcc
 |align=left|{{flagicon|Denmark}} '''[[Denmark]]'''
 |'''3'''||1
@@ Line 113: / Line 99: @@
 * [[Nordic Football Championship]]
 * [[Baltic League]]
+* [[Nordic Cup (football)|Nordic Cup]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 118: / Line 105: @@
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.royalleague.com Official site]
+* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041113031147/http://www.royalleague.com/ Official site]
 * [http://www.livegoals.com/livegoals/index.php?menu=1&country=507 Royal League Live Scores, Fixtures and Results]
 * [http://www.rsssf.no/RoyalLeague/index.html Results], RSSSF
+{{Inter-Nordic competitions}}
-{{Royal League}}
-{{Royal League seasons}}
 [[Category:Royal League| ]]
-[[Category:International club association football competitions in Europe]]
+[[Category:Defunct international club association football competitions in Europe]]
+[[Category:Sport in Scandinavia]]
+[[Category:Football competitions in Denmark]]
+[[Category:Football competitions in Norway]]
+[[Category:Football competitions in Sweden]]
 [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2004]]
 [[Category:Recurring events disestablished in 2007]]
+[[Category:Inter-Nordic sports competitions]]

v t e Inter-Nordic competitions
Active	Nordic Bouldering and Lead Climbing Championships Nordic Chess Championship Nordic Cup (rugby league) Nordic Figure Skating Championships Nordic Futsal Cup Nordic Invitational Nordic Quizzing Championships Nordic Strongman Championships Nordic Swimming Championships Nordic Table Tennis Championship Nordic Under-17 Football Championship Nordic Youth Sailing Championships Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia Rugby Nordic Cup STCC TCR Scandinavia Touring Car Championship
Athletics	Athletics Indoor Championships Indoor Match Women's Cup 10000m Marathon Cross Country Combined Events Race Walking Junior Indoor Race Walking Nordic–Baltic Under-23 Championships Under-20 Junior Combined Events Finland-Sweden Athletics International
Shooting	Handgun Mini Rifle Shotgun Rifle
Defunct	Nordic Badminton Championships Nordic Cup (football) Nordic Football Championship Women's Nordic Games Nordic Hockey Championship Nordic Orienteering Championships Royal League Scandinavian Touring Car Championship