At the beginning of winter in 2010 the Russian Football Union terminated the contract with the Professional Football League (PFL), concerning holding of the First and Second Divisions of Russia championships. On December 13, 2010, the head of RFS met the First Division clubs representatives to decide to establish the Football National League (FNL).
On March 3, 2011, a general meeting of member clubs of the FNL was held, where the regulations of the 2011/12 season were adopted, and changes were made to the membership of the FNL. The league emblem, the official media partner etc. were approved.
March 5, 2011 in the framework of improving the coverage of the championship, the FNL began accreditation of the media regarding the conduct of matches broadcasting and the FNL championship coverage.
In 2010 the Football National League was formed out of 20 clubs admitted to performance in the Russian Football Championship among the First Division teams in 2011.
After two laps played, it is assumed that two teams, ranking 1–2, go to the top division (RPFL), where they occupy the places of the last two clubs in the final standings.
Clubs that took the last five places in the First Division of the FNL are excluded from the organization, and their places are taken by the five teams taking first places in the Second Division of the country.
41 clubs were members of the FNL over its history.
Only five clubs were regular FNL members in all the seasons: “Baltika”, “Yenisey”, “Sibir”, “SKA-Energia” and “Shinnik”.
