The Estonian Women’s Meistriliiga will conclude this autumn in an unusual format after the cancellation of the promotion/relegation play-offs. The decision follows FC Ararat’s mid-season withdrawal and the reluctance of Esiliiga clubs to seek top-flight promotion.
Under the regular system, the bottom two Meistriliiga clubs and the top two Esiliiga teams contest a five-round play-off to determine which sides stay or enter the top division. The format, introduced three years ago, has yet to be played in full. Last season and the year before, Lasnamäe Ajax (previously Nõmme Kalju) declined participation. This year, none of the Esiliiga’s independent teams – Põlva Lootos, FCI Levadia or Lasnamäe Ajax – wished to take part, while Ararat dropped out of the competition entirely.
As a result, only seven teams will finish the 2025 Meistriliiga campaign. The leading six will play through to 15 November, while the team finishing seventh will end its season on 5 October. The bottom two positions are already set to be contested between South Estonian clubs Elva and Tammeka, who face each other in the final round on 5 October.
Looking ahead, it remains unclear which club will replace Ararat in the top flight next year. Neither Levadia nor Ajax are interested in moving up, while Põlva’s stance is still uncertain. If they too decline, the offer would pass to the best sides from II liiga – currently Pärnu Poseidon and Paide Linnanaiskond, with Paide considered keen to take the chance. Direct promotion from II liiga is not unprecedented: Pärnu Vaprus joined Meistriliiga in 2020 from the second division and finished fourth in their debut season.
EJL competitions director Mihkel Uiboleht explained that any promotion would be based strictly on league results and licensing. “The highest-placed team that is ready to move up must still go through the licensing process. We’ve spoken with clubs and there is interest,” he said.
Asked about the lack of ambition from Esiliiga sides, Uiboleht suggested patience: “The reasons are understandable. Some have gaps in youth development, others do not aim for the top level and prefer to give players the chance to play at their chosen standard. But youth structures are improving, and in a few years we should see more competition for Meistriliiga places.” He noted the emergence of new clubs such as Poseidon, Electra and Paide, as well as the youth work of Kuressaare and Vaprus, which could eventually lead to stronger senior women’s teams.
The future of FC Ararat remains uncertain. The club, beset by financial problems, should technically restart from II liiga but hope instead to compete in Esiliiga. Club president Avetis Harutjunjan told Soccernet.ee: “We’d like to play in Esiliiga – it would be better for player development – but that depends on the football association.”
EJL president Aivar Pohlak struck a cautious note: “It is difficult to be optimistic about Ararat’s future next season,” he said. He also explained why Ararat were allowed to take part in Meistriliiga this season without a license: the club’s sporting level, the need to maintain league integrity, and the chance to channel financial support into clearing wage debts. “We have made similar decisions before, but only in specific situations and according to clear principles,” Pohlak added.
Source: https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/naiste-meistriliiga-hooaeg-saab-olude-sunnil-pentsiku-lopu
