The list of the clubs that will play in the Premier Regional League (former A1 League) has been completed.
The League will start in three days, as it was decided in December. But, at that moment, the list of the composition of the groups wasn’t complete since Partizan and Primorje were supposed to play relegation playoff (which was scheduled for January 12 in Novi Sad). The winner would advance to the Regional League.
However, both clubs will play in the League to fill a vacancy that occurred. A few days ago, Mornar Split withdrew from the competition due to the economic and other troubles caused by the pandemic.
The Regional League board accepted Mornar’s request for the withdrawal and decided that Partizan and Primorje will play in the semifinal group A in Belgrade. Mornar was supposed to play in this group, as well as the winner of the playoff. Therefore, the match of the relegation playoff has been canceled.
New system of awarding points
According to the decision made in February, the Premier Regional League was expanded from 10 to 12 clubs.
Radnicki, Solaris, and Primorje were promoted from the A2 League to the highest competition rank. The other nine clubs (and Mornar) played in the A1 League last season.
Mladost enters the season as a title-holder.
This season, the new system of awarding the points will be used. There will be no ties (just like in the World League). If at the end of the fourth quarter the score is tied, then the match will be continued by the penalty shootout.
Awarding the points – Match won: 3 points; Match won by penalty: 2 points; Match lost by penalty: 1 point; Match lost: 0 point
The organizers of the tournament have to follow a strict health protocol. All the people that will attend the games (including officials, journalists, etc) must provide a confirmation of a negative coronavirus antigen test, done within 48 hours before the start of the tournament.
2020/21 Regional League Group stage (January 14 – 17)
Group A (Belgrade)
Mladost Zagreb (CRO)
Jadran Split (CRO)
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade (SRB)
Sabac (SRB)
Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
Primorje EB Rijeka (CRO)
Group B (Dubrovnik)
Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE)
Budva (MNE)
Primorac Kotor (MNE)
KVK Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)
Solaris Sibenik (CRO)
Final Four, Zagreb (March 26 and 27)
Semifinals (March 26): A1 – B2, B1 – A2
The final match is on March 27.
There is still no information on the competition in the A2 Regional League.
