The top flight of the Algerian league will be extended from 16 to 18 clubs from next season, the Algerian. Football Federation votes at its annual meeting on Tuesday.

It also decided that the second division would no longer be considered a professional and would be split into to two groups of 16 teams each, based on geographical considerations to keep down travel costs.

The decision are part of a reform of the pyramid of club football in Algeria, which will also force Algerian clubs to sort out their finances or face being expelled.

“If tomorrow we have a case of a club who is in Ligue 1 but who cannot fulfill the club licensing conditions, we will relegate them,” warned FAF president Kheireddine Zetchi.

“We will give all the clubs time to comply with these rules but they should all begin to understand that there is a minimum on which we will be intractable,” he added.

Soka25east.com