Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈliɣa ðe ˈfutβol pɾofesjoˈnal βoliˈβjano]; English: Bolivian Professional Football League) is the top-flight professional football (soccer) league in Bolivia. It started in 1977, though football had been played in Bolivia since the early 1900s, specifically in La Paz and Oruro.
An amateur league (which became semi-pro in 1950) started in La Paz in 1914, the LPFA (La Paz Football Association, which is currently called the Asociacion de Futbol de La Paz), the first association of soccer in Bolivia. The LPFA was considered for many years the top soccer tournament in the country.
Founded in 1925, the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol didn't organize a national championship until 1958. These championships included representatives of all regional associations, although the LPFA had also included representatives of Oruro and Cochabamba in its championships. Despite this cup being considered the top Bolivian football championship, the LPFA league was still considered the most competitive one.
The Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (National Professional Football League), more commonly known as the Liga de Fútbol Profesional (LFP) is a national sports association responsible for administering the two professional football leagues in Spain - the Primera and Segunda División. The organisation was founded in 1984.
Competition
The 42 member clubs of the LFP are grouped into two divisions: the Liga BBVA (20 clubs) and Liga Adelante (22 clubs). In any given season a club plays each of the others in the same division twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. This makes for a total of 38 games played each season in Liga BBVA and 42 in Liga Adelante.
Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. At the end of each season, the club with the most points in the Liga BBVA is crowned champion. If points are equal, the head-to-head records determine the winner. If still equal, the goal difference and then goals scored become the deciding factors. As for Liga Adelante, at the top end three clubs win promotion to Liga BBVA, with the bottom three Liga BBVA clubs taking their places. At the lower end, four club are relegated to the Segunda División B, while four teams from the 2ªB join the Liga Adelante in their stead.