It has been reported (although not officially confirmed as present) by several news agencies today that Smorgon will play in the Belarusian Premier League for the 2021 season to replace Gorodeya who have unfortunately dissolved due to financial problems. This has caused some controversy as Smorgon finished in sixth place of the first league last season.
Champion's Sputnik Rechitsa and second placed Gomel take their place in the top tier replacing Belshina Bobruisk and Smolevichy.
Third placed Krumkachy Minsk had played off against Slutsk for a place in the top division over two legs with Slutsk won 4-1 on aggregate.
Following Gorodeya's withdrawal it was thought Krumkahcy would take their place as they had finished third but it was reported the Football Federation of Belarus (ABFF) stated they had lost their chance by losing in the play-off final.
Arsenal Dzershinsk (4th) and Lokomotiv Gomel (5th) were considered with Lokomotiv unable to be licenced due to a 'number of legal nuances' and Arsenal withdrew their application. This left Smorgon (6th) who had applied along with Krumkachy who in recent weeks were apparently being still considered.
Another regulation was then found that clubs that had only been members of the ABFF for less than two years can't apply for a licence to paly in the Premier League. Krumkachy had been accepted as a member of 27/3/2019 with the Premier League started on 12/3/2021 - 15 days out!!
Krumkachy have issued a statement questioning why were they allowed to play in the play-off matches if they could not apply for participation in the Premier League? Why weren't they told this at the earliest opportunity instead of being told they had given up their right to play in the Premier League by losing the play-off games?
They have also questioned how Sputnik Rechitsa (joined the second league in 2018 promoted in 2020) and Rukh Brest (2017 promoted in 2019) were allowed to join the top tier? Although I can't confirm when these two respective clubs were registered members of the ABFF.
It's all rather confusing but it looks as though Smorgon will play in the top tier for the 2021 season.
Here's a little introduction to them:
FC SMORGON were formed in 1987 and represent the City of Smorgan with is located in the Grodno region. The City is around 240 km from Grodno and 110 km for Minsk. The Lituanian Capital is closer - around 90 km across the border.
The City was part of Grand Duchy of Lithuania up until 1795 when it became part of the Russian Empire - From 1921 to 1939 it was part of the Second Polish Republic until it was occupied by the Red Army and incorporated into the USSR. During World War II it was occupied by Nazi Germany - Since the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991 it has been part of Belarus.
The City was famous in the 1800's for a 'bear academy' which was opened by a local nobleman Count Radziwill who captured bears and trained them often exhibiting them around Europe. The 'bear academy' existed until 1914 when most of the City was destroyed in World War I. Hence the bear on the club's logo!
Smorgon currently has a population of around 36,000 people. The club's Yunost Stadium has a capacity of 3,500 and has a grass playing surface.
They have been members of the Belarusian Football League since it was formed in 1992 aside from four seasons in the amateur leagues between 1994 to 1998. They have played in the Premier League for three seasons between 2007 to 2009 when they finished 10th, 8th and 14th.
They finished in sixth place last season which was sixteen points below Krumkachy and eighteen below Gomel in second place.
Since the 2016 they have finished in 5th, 13th, 11th, 14th and the aforementioned 6th place.
Their manager Vyacheslav Geraschenko has been in place since January 2020 - He had 19 Belarusian International caps during his playing career in which he representing DNEPR Mogilev, Shinnik Bobruisk, Torpedo Mogilev, Chernomorets Novorossiysk, CSKA Moscow, Slavia Mozyr, Uralan Elista, Naftan Novopolotsk and Savit Mogilev.
His managerial career began in 2006 as Assitant as Savit Mogilev before taking charge of BATE Borisov Reserves, DNEPR Mogilev, Belshina Bobruisk, Lida, Gomel and Palanga (Lithuania).
They have recently signed former Belarus International centre-forward Leonid Kovel from Belshina Bobruisk. The former FC Minsk and Dynamo Minsk player, 34, was one of Belshina's better players last season.
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