Argentinian Professional Football League to debate 2023 league format
The LPF have already started to discuss how the First Division will be played in 2023
At the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Professional League in Ezeiza, in addition to defining the dates for the end of the season, the discussion began on how the 2023 season will be played. It is a year in which there will be limitations on weekends due to national elections and it would make 44 match days, like the current year, unfeasible.
First alternative: Repeat the current format
One of the ideas in mind is to maintain the current format of the season: playing an LPF Cup first and then a League of 27 match days, every team playing the other. This option is still the one that achieves consensus, but is also the one with the greatest demand for weekends and midweek matches, with 44 match days.
Second alternative: League Cup and a 'Top 20'
The second option being analysed is that a League Cup could be played in the first half of the year, as a competition that would serve as a filter for the second half of the season, in which a championship of 20 teams would be played. The teams selected for the Championship would be the top 10 (of 14 in total) of each group played in the first half of the season. Meanwhile, the eight lowest-ranked teams in that Cup (four from each group) would play a qualifier with the 12 best in the Primera Nacional (second division). Just 36 dates would be needed for this format.
Third alternative: Two equal tournaments throughout the season
The third and final alternative under study in the AFA is to play two equal tournaments throughout the season, in the style of the old Apertura and Clausura that were in place from the 1990s until 2014. It is currently the least popular option among managers, in addition to the fact that there would need to be 54 available dates in the year.
Changes to relegation:
The main option is that there are three relegated teams instead of the four projected: two by averages and one by league position. That would change the following year, in 2024: there would be two relegated on points and one team down on their average. The idea is for there to be no more averages in 2025 and in that season, dropping down a division will be decided solely by league points.