From 2010 to 2012, an exotic “spring-fall-spring” scheme, dividing the season into three parts, was introduced. At the end of the season, two mini-tournaments were arranged – the first among teams from the top part of the standings, the second – among clubs from the bottom part. In 2012, however, the Russian Football Union executive board decided to switch over to a more optimal "fall-spring" system.
Official name: the Russian Football Premier League (the Russian Football Championship)
Number of participants: 16
Teams play 30 games over the season –15 at home and 15 away. A club receives 3 points for a win in a match, 1 point for a draw, and nil for defeat. The final clubs rating is defined with regard to the following criteria:
the number of points scored (the main criterion);
the biggest number of victories in all matches;
scores of games, played between teams (number of points, number of victories, goal difference, number of goals scored, number of away goals scored);
best goal difference in all matches;
the biggest number of goals scored in all matches;
the biggest number of away goals scored in all matches.
In case all specified indicators are identical, places of teams in the standings are determined through holding an additional match between these teams.
The teams, having taken the last two places, are sent directly to the Football National League. They are replaced by the FNL champion and vice-champion. Beyond that, on the completion of the season the play-off round occurs, in which the 14th and 15th Premier League teams participate, as well as the 3rd and 4th teams of the 1st division. The two-legged tie reveals another two partakers of the next Premier League competition.
The tournament beginning and end dates are constantly changed and determined by responsible authorities. According to a new tournament format the winter break begins in mid-December. Accordingly, teams finish resting early in May and play till the end of May. During the autumn segment of the championship rivals carry out the majority of matches, while taking breaks several times to participate in international matches.
A limit on legionnaires is introduced in the Russian Football Premier League, not more than 6 foreign footballers may be on the field at the same time.
The Russian Football Union receives two tickets to the Champions League. The Premier League winner only gets a direct ticket to the group stage. The vice-champion joins the tournament from the 3rd qualifying round. The 3rd and the 4th championship teams make their way to the Europa League. The Russian Cup holder goes to the Europa League, too. If this team ranks a place from 1st to 4th, the ticket is handed over to a finalist. In case a finalist is one of the four strongest teams, the 5th Russian Football Premier League team makes its way to the Europa League.
Not all Russian championship teams comply with the UEFA requirements. A vivid example of this is “Rostov”, which won the Russian Cup 2014, but failed to enter the Europa League, yielding its right to “Spartak”. Summarizing the 2015/16 season results, for the first time in its history “Rostov” made it into the Champions League, having taken the second place in the championship.
A new Russian Football Premier League logo is a bear inscribed in a pentagon. The logo is performed in the Russian flag colors – red and blue. Red eyes of a bear symbolize eyes “burning with passion”.
