Scottish Premiership

The Scottish Premiership is the top division of the Scottish Professional Football League and the highest level of the Scottish football league system, a professional association football league contested by twelve clubs. It was established in July 2013 when the SPFL was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League, and seventeen clubs have played in it since the 2013-14 season. Each club plays 38 matches a season, and the season runs from August until May. Teams receive three points for a win and one for a draw, and are ranked by points, then goal difference, then goals scored. After the first 33 games the league splits into a top six and a bottom six, who play five more matches within their own sections, and points carry forward. The bottom club in the Premiership is relegated and swaps places with the winner of the Scottish Championship, under the conditions the league sets.