In this article, BraeckBall will walk you through how Saudi Pro League winner decided each season — the rules, tiebreakers, historical changes, and what happens if teams finish level. If you ever wondered what criteria make one club champions over another, this guide will clear it up in full.
What is the Saudi Pro League format
The Saudi Pro League — officially the Roshn Saudi League — is the top-tier of Saudi club football.
- It features 18 teams since the 2023-24 season.
- They play a double round-robin format: each club plays every other club twice (once at home, once away), making 34 matches per team in a full season.
- Match results yield 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 for a loss. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Pro_League?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
At the end of all the matches, the team with the most points is crowned champion. But what if two or more clubs end up with the same number of points? That’s where tiebreakers come in.
What happens when teams finish level on points
When two or more teams are tied on total points at the end of the season, the Saudi Pro League regulations lay out a specific order of tiebreakers to determine the champion (or any tied position). Knowing these details is key to understanding exactly how Saudi Pro League winner decided when it’s close.
Here are the tiebreaker criteria in order:
- Head-to-head points — points gained in matches between the tied teams only.
- Head-to-head goal difference — the difference between goals scored and conceded in those direct matches.
- Overall goal difference — across all matches in the season.
- Overall goals scored — total goals scored in all league matches.
- Fair play ranking — disciplinary record (yellow/red cards etc.), if needed.
Some things to note:
- The head-to-head criteria only apply if all matches between the tied teams have been played. If, for whatever reason, they haven’t, then those criteria might not apply.
- The rules are clearly spelled out in the Saudi Pro League Official Regulations and the SPL Handbook.
Historical changes & context
Understanding how Saudi Pro League winner decided also means knowing how the format evolved. The rules haven’t always been as they are now.
- Before 2007-08, there were various playoff or regional playoff systems, rather than only deciding the champion via total points in a round-robin format.
- Starting 2008, the league reverted more permanently to a straightforward total points system, scrapping playoffs for the title.
- Since then, modifications have been about number of teams (14 → 16 → 18), sponsorship, and refinement of tiebreaker details. But the core: points → head-to-head → goal difference → goals scored → fair play has been consistent in recent years.
Example: 2024-25 season
To illustrate how Saudi Pro League winner decided in practice, let’s look at the 2024-25 season:
- Al-Ittihad won the league with 77 points.
- Since none of the challengers matched their total, no tiebreakers at the top were needed.
- But elsewhere in the table, teams tied on points have been separated using head-to-head first etc., as.
Why tiebreakers matter so much
For fans, players, and clubs alike, knowing how Saudi Pro League winner decided matters for several high-stake reasons:
- Qualification to continental competitions (e.g. AFC Champions League) often depends on final league positions. Even 2nd vs 3rd can make a big financial difference.
- Relegation: clubs want to avoid dropping to the First Division; tiebreakers can decide who stays.
- Titles and records: when two powerful clubs finish level (or almost), the tie-breaking rules decide who gets glory.
A club could dominate in scoring overall but lose out because in their head-to-head matchups they performed worse. That’s why every match internal to close rivals becomes doubly important under this system.
Common misunderstandings & special cases
- Some fans assume goal difference is always first after points. Not so in the Saudi Pro League; head-to-head takes precedence.
- If teams tied on more than two, head-to-head can get complicated (mini-tables among those teams). The regulations account for that.
- If an extraordinary event (unplayed match, administrative deduction, etc.) disturbs the schedule or table, the league’s disciplinary or regulatory committees intervene. These are rare but do occur.
Official regulation sources & authority
All the rules for deciding the champion are laid out in :
- The Saudi Pro League Official Regulations document.
- The SPL Handbook embodies the up-to-date tiebreakers and competition format.
These are binding on all clubs each season.
Conclusion
How Saudi Pro League winner decided comes down to a clear, tiered ruleset: most points over the season win the title; if tied, head-to-head record; then goal difference; goals scored; then fair play. BraeckBall hopes this demystifies the process so when title races get tight, you know exactly what’s at stake and what could tip the balance.
If you like, I can also pull up past seasons where the champion was decided by tiebreaker (not just points) — fascinating case studies. Want me to do that?
