The Arabian Gulf League has been reduced from 14 teams to 12 for the 2017/18 season.
The decision came on Wednesday night following a meeting at the Football Association, which was prompted by a succession of club mergers announced the previous day.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Al Ahli, Al Shabab and Dubai club, all sides based in Dubai, would become one entity under the title Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club, a decree issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Sharjah and Al Shaab, a side in the second-tier First Division, were also merged, as ordered by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. That new enterprise will be known as Sharjah Cultural Club.
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The revised format for the Arabian Gulf League, the top tier of UAE football, will be evaluated before the end of next season. A draw to set the fixtures for the 2017/18 campaign will be made at the FA headquarters next Monday, to incorporate Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club and Sharjah Cultural Club. The original draw was carried out at the league’s end-of-season awards in Abu Dhabi on Monday night, but that was rendered redundant by the mergers.
The league has featured 14 clubs since the 2012/13 campaign, having been set at 12 for the first four seasons of the professional era.
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