Vipers SC are the 2019/20 StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) champions after local soccer body, Fufa, applied the 75 per cent rule of the Competitions Committee Rules to end the season.
This means the Venoms now have a total of four league titles, although still a massive nine behind dethroned champions KCCA.
The decision announced by Fufa president Moses Magogo on Wednesday was forced by the continued uncertainly due to the Coronavirus, which has brought the world economy to a halt.
“The Fufa Executive has decided to apply the 75% rule and declared Vipers the Uganda Premier League champions,” announced Magogo.
“Maroons, Proline and Tooro United are (also) sportingly eligible to apply for club licensing for 2020/21 Fufa Big League Club License.”
Vipers were leading table standings by four points at 54, with KCCA second with five matches left to go. Tooro United, Proline – all on 22 points – and Maroons, 24, have been relegated as per table standings.
Article 18 (ii) of Fufa’s competition rules on failure to complete the league due to force majeure states that “where all the clubs in the league have completed the first round fixtures but less than 75% league games have been played, the table standings at the end of the first round shall be considered as the final table standing of the league.”
Currently, 83 per cent of games have been played; meaning that Vipers are now champions for the fourth time, and bottom sides Proline, Tooro United and Maroons are relegated.
Vipers will represent Uganda in next season’s Caf Champions League but according to Magogo, Fufa will continue monitoring the situation to see if the Uganda Cup can be completed to decide who represents the country in the Confederation Cup.
In the event Uganda Cup is not completed, KCCA – as the second placed team on the table – will represent on the continent.
Big League pace setters Myda FC, UPDF will now apply for club licensing for the 2020/21 UPL license, Kiboga Young, Kataka, Kitara and Ndejje University will do a play-off before next season starts to determine the third team to be promoted to the UPL.
Fufa also applied the less than 50% of matches played rule to declare the Women Super League null and void, with no champions and no relegation.
The District Leagues 4th and 5th Divisions, National Beach Soccer League and Fufa Juniors league 2020/21 season have also all been cancelled.