Scottish Professional Football League
 |
|
| Country |
 Scotland
|
|---|---|
| Other club(s) from |
 England
|
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Divisions |
Scottish Premiership Scottish Championship Scottish League One Scottish League Two |
| Number of teams | 42 |
| Level on pyramid | 1–4 |
| Domestic cup(s) |
Scottish Cup Scottish League Cup Scottish Challenge Cup |
| International cup(s) | Champions League, Europa League |
| TV partners |
Sky Sports BT Sport BBC Scotland BBC Alba (Scotland) |
| Website | www |
 2016–17 Scottish Professional Football League
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The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) is the national men's association football league in Scotland. The league was formed in June 2013 following a merger between the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League. As well as operating its league competition, which consists of the top four levels of the Scottish football league system, the SPFL also operates two domestic cup competitions, the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Challenge Cup.
A Scottish football league system was first created in 1890, when the Scottish Football League (SFL) was formed. Traditionally the league had a two divisional structure (Divisions One and Two) between which clubs were promoted and relegated at the end of each season. By the mid-1970s, this organisation was perceived to be stagnant, and it was decided to split into a three divisional structure: Premier Division (formerly Division One), First Division (formerly Division Two) and a newly added Second Division. This system came into force for the 1975–76 season. This setup continued until the 1994–95 season, when a four divisional structure was introduced, along with a new Third Division, with all four divisions consisting of ten clubs.
On 8 September 1997, the Premier Division clubs decided to split from the Scottish Football League and form the Scottish Premier League (SPL), following the example of the English Premier League. This decision was fuelled by a desire by the top clubs in Scotland to control more of the revenue generated by the game and to negotiate its contracts with sponsors and broadcasters. SFL revenues had been divided proportionally between clubs in all four divisions. The SPL clubs retained all of its commercial revenues, except for an annual payment to the SFL and a parachute payment to any relegated clubs.
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