Scottish Premier League

The Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998 when the clubs in the top tier of Scottish football broke away from the Scottish Football League. The Scottish Premier League followed the example of the Premier League in England, which had been formed in 1992 and had allowed the clubs at the top of the game to benefit more from the revenue that they created. In 2013 the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League merged to form the Scottish Professional Football League; the top division is now known as the Scottish Premiership. 

In total, the Scottish Premier League existed for 15 seasons, with 19 clubs playing at least one year in the top flight. Initially, the league had consisted of 10 teams but this was increased to 12 in 2000-2001. This total remains in place today. When the league was formed, each of the 10 teams would play each other four times but the increase to 12 teams heralded a change in structure whereby each team would play each other three times before the league split into two sections of six, with the top six and bottom six teams each playing each other once more.

The Scottish Premier League was dominated by Rangers and Celtic, with one of the Glasgow clubs winning the title every year; Rangers won seven titles and Celtic won eight. This two-way dominance at the top of the table was, temporarily at least, ended by the Scottish Football Association, who relegated Rangers to the bottom of the Scottish Football League in 2012 following financial irregularities. 

The formation of the Scottish Professional Football League has meant few noticeable changes for fans at the top of the game. Teams continue to play 38 league games in a season, with the top and bottom clubs separating after 33 games, and the league season still runs from August until May. Teams are awarded three points for a win and one point for a draw.

The bottom club at the end of the Scottish Premiership season is relegated to the Scottish Championship and is replaced in the top flight by the winner of the Championship. For the first time in the history of Scottish Top flight football, 2013-2014 will also see the team which finishes second bottom of the Premiership enter a play-off with the teams which finish second, third and fourth in the Championship. The winner of this play-off will gain a place in the Premiership for the following season. 

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