The 2008
Belarusian Premier League
The Belarusian Premier League or the Vyšejšaja Liha or the Vysheyshaya Liga ( be, Вышэйшая ліга, russian: Высшая лига, "Top League") is the top division of professional football in Belarus, and is organized by the Belarusi ...
was the 18th season of top-tier
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
in
Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...
. It started on April 6 and ended on November 16, 2008.
BATE Borisov were the defending champions.
Team changes from 2007 season
Due to league expansion from 14 to 16 teams the only relegated team
Minsk
Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...
, who finished last in 2007, was replaced by three best teams of
2007 First League:
Savit Mogilev,
Granit Mikashevichi and
Lokomotiv Minsk.
Overview
BATE Borisov won their 5th champions title and qualified for the next season's Champions League. The championship runners-up
Dinamo Minsk, bronze medalists
MTZ-RIPO Minsk and
2008–09 Cup winners
Naftan Novopolotsk qualified for the inaugural tournament of Europa League. Due to decision to gradually reduce Premiere League to 12 clubs (14 in 2009, 12 in 2010) three lowest placed teams (
Lokomotiv Minsk,
Savit Mogilev and
Darida Minsk Raion) relegated to the First League. The two latter teams disbanded prior to 2009 season.
Teams and venues
Table
Results
Belarusian clubs in European Cups
Top scorers
See also
*
2008 Belarusian First League
*
2007–08 Belarusian Cup
2007–08 Belarusian Cup was the 17th edition of the football knock-out competition in Belarus.
First round
12 teams from the First League (out of 14, excluding Belshina Bobruisk and Lokomotiv Minsk who relegated from the Premier League after 2 ...
*
2008–09 Belarusian Cup
References
External links
Official site
{{2008–09 in European Football (UEFA)
Belarusian Premier League seasons
1
Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...
Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...