Apertura and Clausura

Apertura and Clausura
Light-green - countries with Apertura and Clausura tournaments during calendar year; Orange - countries with Apertura and Clausura starting in the second half of calendar year and finishing at the first half of following year; Number 1 shows countries where the Apertura and Clausura are only parts of a larger tournament.

The Apertura and Clausura tournaments are a relatively recent innovation for many Latin American football leagues in which the traditional European football season from August to May is divided in two sections per season, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are the Spanish words for "opening" and "closing". In French-speaking Haiti, these are known as the Ouverture and the Fermeture.

Contents

Latin America

The Apertura is held in the first half of the calendar year in Chile, Colombia, Panama and Paraguay while it is held in the second half of the calendar year in Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Uruguay and Venezuela. Haiti holds the Ouverture in the first half of the calendar year.

In most leagues, each tournament constitutes a national championship in itself. On the other hand, in the leagues of Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, the winners of the Apertura and Clausura play each other in a playoff for the season title, or there is a final stage where teams qualify based on placements in the Apertura and Clausura. Thus, two championship titles are awarded per year in the first group of leagues, and only one in the second.

In Mexico, for instance, the winners of each tournament play each other at the beginning of the following season for another title, but this is a rather minor season curtain-raiser, akin to national Super Cups in European leagues. Relegations, if any, are done on an aggregate basis; usually the combined table for both tournaments determine relegation placement(s). In the Argentine and Mexican leagues, the average points over the previous three seasons are used to determine relegation.

Peru has abolished its Apertura and Clausura format after the 2008 season and adopted new formats.[clarification needed] Ecuador used it only in 2005.

The Apertura and Clausura format can be seen as a means to fill in the gaps caused by the inherent lack of elimination cup competitions in most Latin American nations.

Brazil

The Brazilian national league is a notable tournament in Latin America not to split the season into two parts, using a single-season double round-robin format to decide the champions, similar to those in European leagues, though played between April and December. Uruguay is planning to return to this system in 2010. The last single season in Uruguay was held in 1993. Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona proposed in December 2008 the return to a single season format,[1] but there are no plans currently for such a format change in the near future. Brazilian clubs also participate in the state leagues from January to April. Brazil also has, unlike most Spanish-speaking nations, a national cup.

Japan and Korea

For most of its history (except in 1996, 2002, and 2003) the J. League in Japan had a similar system, although it was called 1st Stage and 2nd Stage. The seasons became unified permanently in 2005, partially to avoid conflicts with the Emperor's Cup. The K-League of South Korea also had the same system in 1984, 1986, 1995, 2004, 2005, and 2006. In 2007, it again became unified because of confusion among fans.

Apertura and Clausura by country

Country League Champions Calendar Seasons
 Argentina Primera División Both (Since 1991–92) European (August – June) 1990–91 – present
 Bolivia Liga de Fútbol Profesional Both (Since 2003) European (August – June) 1991 – present
 Chile Primera División Both American (January – December) 2002 – present
 Colombia Primera A Both American (February – December) 2002 – present
 Costa Rica Primera División Both European 2007–08 – present
 Ecuador Serie A Both American 2005
 El Salvador Primera División Both European (August – June) 1998–99 – present
 Guatemala Liga Nacional de Fútbol Both European 1999–00 – present
 Haiti Ligue Haïtienne Both (since 2002, except in 2005–06) American (April–November) 2002, 2003, 2004–05, 2007–present[2]
 Honduras Liga Nacional de Fútbol Both (Since 1997–98) European (August – May) 1997–98 – present
 Mexico Primera División Both European (July – May) 1996–97 – present
 Nicaragua Primera División One European  ???
 Panama Liga de Fútbol Both (Since 2007) American (February – November) 2001 – present
 Paraguay Primera División Both (Since 2007) American (February – December) 1996 - present
 Peru Primera División One American (February – November) 1997–2008
 Uruguay Primera División One European (August – June) 1994 – present
 Venezuela Primera División One European (August – May) 1996-97 - present

See also

References

  1. ^ "Grondona reconoció que quiere volver a los "torneos largos" - Ambito.com". Ambitoweb.com. 2007-11-21. http://www.ambitoweb.com/noticia.asp?id=434871&seccion=Deportes&fecha=25/12/2008. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  2. ^ Haiti adopted the two-stage season in 2002. In 2004, it changed its season to align with the European football calendar, conducting the Ouverture in 2004 and the Fermeture in 2005. The 2005–06 season saw only one championship contested. In 2007, the league returned to the American calendar and a two-stage season.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Apertura and Clausura in Argentine football — The Apertura and Clausura system is the format currently used by the Primera División Argentina. It was introduced for the 1990 1991 season.FormatThe Argentine Primera has 20 teams, the season is divided into two tournaments each consisting of 19 …   Wikipedia

  • Records and statistics of the Copa Libertadores — This page details the records and statistics of the Copa Libertadores football tournament. The Copa Libertadores is an international premier club tournament played annually by the top clubs of South America. It includes 3 5 teams from all ten… …   Wikipedia

  • ANAPROF 2007 (Apertura) — The ANAPROF Apertura 2007 season ( officially Torneo Apertura 2007 ) started on February 24, 2007. On May 27 2007 the Apertura 2007 finalized with Tauro F.C. crowned seven time ANAPROF champion after beating San Francisco F.C. 2 0. Therefore… …   Wikipedia

  • Apertura/Clausura format in Honduras — The following is a list and the statistics of soccer clubs who have played in the Honduran First Level under the apertura/clausura format since its formation in 1997 98 to the end of the 2007 08 season. League and playoffs performance(1997 98… …   Wikipedia

  • Clausura 1997 (Peru) — The 1997 Clausura was the closing half year tournament of the Primera División Peruana 1997. It was played by 14 teams. The winner of this half year tournament qualified for the Copa Libertadores 1998 and would contest the national championship… …   Wikipedia

  • La Primera División A Apertura 2008 — La Primera División A (Mexican First A Division) Apertura 2008 is a Mexican football tournament, one of two tournaments held each year. It began July 18, 2008 with Correcaminos UAT and Tampico Madero kicking off the season, a match UAT won 2 1,… …   Wikipedia

  • Ceremonia de apertura de los Juegos Olímpicos de Pekín 2008 — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Vista exterior de la ceremonia de apertura La Ceremonia de apertura de los XXIX Juegos Olímpicos se celebró el 8 de agosto de 2008 en el Estadi …   Wikipedia Español

  • Torneo Clausura 2001 (El Salvador) — Torneo Clausura 2001 Ubicación  El Salvador Categoría Primera División de Fútbol …   Wikipedia Español

  • Torneo Apertura 2000 (El Salvador) — Torneo Apertura 2000 Ubicación  El Salvador Categoría Primera División de Fútbol …   Wikipedia Español

  • Torneo Apertura 2001 (El Salvador) — Torneo Apertura 2001 Ubicación  El Salvador Categoría Primera División de Fútbol …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”