BELARUSIAN FIRST LEAGUE CONSTITUTION FOR THE 2021 SEASON

As confirmed on the football.by website here is the line-up for the Belarusian First League for the 2021 season. Four clubs are promoted from the Second League with Molodechno very unlucky as they had finished 3rd by lost the play-off against Khimik Svetlogorsk - the 4th and 5th placed teams were promoted to make up for the numbers for the forthcoming campaign. 

FC Oshmyany who finished in 10th place last season are not included. They had reported via their social media channels on 21st January that the club 'may cease to exist' as they have 'arrears on salries of football players' and that 'what will happen with the club in unknown.'

On a happier note it's great to see Smolevchi who won many friends and supporters around the world after their performances in the Premier League last season were thought to have not been able to compete this season due to financial problems - they will be playing and have apparently become Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino's 'farm team' - Leonid Lagun is expected to the manger who has been in charge previously with Slonim, Torpedo Minsk (a short spell as caretaker in 2018), Neman Stolbtsy and Rudensk. 

1. ARSENAL DZERZHINSK 

2. BARANOVICHI (Promoted - 4th in Second League)

3. BELSHINA BOBRUISK (Relegated from Premier League)

4. DNEPR MOGILEV (Promoted - 1st in Second League) 

5. GRANIT MIKASHEVICHI 

6. KHIMIK SVETLOGORSK

7. KRUMKACHY MINSK

8. LIDA 

9. LOKOMOTIV GOMEL 

10. NAFTAN NOVOPOLOTSK 

11. ORSHA  

12. OSIPOVICHI (Promoted - 5th in Second League) 

13. SHAKHYTOR PETRIKOV (Promoted - 2nd in Second League) 

14. SLONIM-2017 

15. SMOLEVICHI (Relegated from Premier League)

16. VOLNA PINSK 

Changes from 2020 

Sputnik Rechitsa (1st), Gomel (2nd) and Smorgon (6th) promoted to Premier League. 

Belshina Bobruisk and Smolevichi relegated from the Premier League 

DNEPR Mogilev, Shakhytor Petrikov, Baranovichi and Osipovichi promoted from the Second League. 

Oshmyany - Not Included - Possibly dissolved as a football club due to financial problems.

OSIPOVICHI AND BARANOVICHI RETURN TO THE FIRST LEAGUE