Northern Ireland v Belarus (15/11/2024)

DOMESTIC

• The Belarusian top flight is known as the Premier League, and is contested by 16 teams. • The season takes place between March and November each year. • The league was established in 1992 following independence. • Of the 17 teams to compete in the first season, Dinamo Minsk were the only Belarusian side competing in the Soviet Top League prior to independence. • BATE Borisov hold the record for the most titles with 15. They won the league 13 times in a row between 2006 and 2018 but have not won it since, finishing as runners-up in 2019, 2020 and 2021. • The reigning champions are Dinamo Minsk, who have won the title eight times, having dominated during the early years of the league. They sit top of the table again going into the final weeks of the current campaign. • The Belarusian league was the only league in Europe to continue throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and during a period where most other European football was suspended the league’s profile grew considerably.

NORTHERN IRELAND DREW 0-0 AGAINST BELARUS IN LEAGUE C GROUP 3 IN THE UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE LAST MONTH.

IRISHFA.COM

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