The 2014 Meistriliiga, also known as A. Le Coq Premium Liiga due to sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 24th season of the Meistriliiga, the first level in the Estonian football system. The season ran from 1 March 2014 to 8 November 2014.[2]Levadia successfully defended the title, securing the championship in the last round.
Teams
Kuressaare were relegated to the 2014 Esiliiga after finishing in the bottom of the table at the end of the 2013 season, ending their five-year tenure in the top flight. They were replaced by Lokomotiv, Esiliiga runners-up and first among promotion-eligible teams. Lokomotiv will make their first appearance in the top division.[3]
One spot in the league was decided in a two-legged play-off between Esiliiga's 4th Tarvas and Meistriliiga's 9th-placed team Tammeka. Tammeka won 6–2 on aggregate and therefore retained its place in Meistriliiga.[4]
Tammeka hit financial trouble in the second half of 2013 season,[5] but refused the reorganization plan set by Estonian Football Association.[6] In February Tammeka were stripped of their Meistriliiga license.[7] Tammeka entry was later granted for 2014 season to Football School Tammeka, financially independent part of the club run by former employees of football club Tammeka.[8]
Source: Estonian Football Association(in Estonian) Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) fewest withdrawals or annulled matches; 3) overall wins; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) goal difference; 7) goals scored; 8) away goals scored; 9) fair-play points. If two (or more) teams on the top have the same number of points by the end of the season, the aforementioned rules will not apply and additional game(s) will be played to determine the champions[34] (C) Champions; (R) Relegated Notes:
At season's end Lokomotiv, the ninth place club in the Meistriliiga, participated in a two-legged play-off with Tulevik, the runners-up (of the independent teams) of the 2014 Esiliiga, for the spot in next year's competition.[35]