The 2022–23 Swiss Promotion League (known as the YAPEAL Promotion League for sponsorship reasons) is the 11th season (9th under its current name) of the 3rd tier of the Swiss football league system under its current format.
Starting from this season, eighteen teams will play in a round-robin league with home and away games.[1] The sixteen teams of the previous season are joined by FC Baden and FC Bulle, who were promoted from the 1. Liga Classic,[2] and SC Kriens, who were relegated from the Challenge League, replaced last season's champion AC Bellinzona. Furthermore, the number of under-21 teams allowed in the Promotion League is no longer restricted to four, starting with this season. This season features five U21 teams.
Due to an increase of teams in the Super League in the 2023–24 season, two teams are directly promoted to the Swiss Challenge League at the end of the season,[3] subject to license validity. The third placed team will play a promotion play-off against the last place of the Challenge League.[4]
Classification also acts as qualifier for the Swiss Cup. The seven highest ranked (eligible) teams directly qualify to the first round of the 2023–24 Swiss Cup.[5] U21 teams are not eligible for the Swiss Cup.
The season started on 6 August 2022 and the final matchday will be held on 27 May 2023.[6] The league will be on winter break between 27 November 2022 and 18 February 2023 (between matchdays 18 and 19). Following the end of the season, the two legs of the Promotion play-off will be played on 31 May and 3 June 2023, respectively.[7]
Source: Erste Liga - Match center Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Draw. (C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes:
^Reserve teams are ineligible to qualify for promotion and Swiss Cup.[5]
^SC Cham are ineligible for promotion as they did not apply for an SFL license.[8]
^FC Chiasso filed for bankruptcy on 14 February 2023.[9] They are placed at the bottom of the league with 34 points. All of their games are set to 0–0 with 0 points awarded to their opponents.
The relegation/promotion play-off will be played in a two-legged game between the last placed team of the Challenge League and the third placed team of the Promotion League.[3] The first leg will be held on 31 May 2023, with the representative of the Promotion League hosting.[7] The second leg will be held on 3 June 2023.