League Format
Eighteen clubs will play in double round-robin (home and away) format, a total of 34 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order:
- Goal differential
- Goals scored
- Head-to-head results
- Disciplinary points
A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied at the first place, both clubs will be declared as the champions. The bottom three clubs will be relegated to J2. The top three clubs will qualify to AFC Champions League in the following year.
- Changes from Previous Year
- Bottom three clubs are relegated by default; during 2004-2008 season, the 16th-place club needed to win playoffs to avoid relegation.
- The fourth foreign player slot (AFC player slot) is introduced
Read more about this topic: 2009 J. League Division 1
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