Liga IV Prahova, officially known as Liga A Prahova, is the county football division of Liga IV for clubs based in Prahova County, Romania. The competition is ranked as the fourth tier of the Romanian football league system and is organized by AJF Prahova â AsociaÃÂia JudeÃÂeanàde Fotbal ().
It is contested by a variable number of teams, depending on the number of teams relegated from Liga III, the number of teams promoted from Liga V Prahova, and the teams that withdraw or enter the competition. The winner may or may not be promoted to Liga III, depending on the result of a promotion play-off contested against the winner of a neighboring county series.
Until 1924, Prahova football was represented at the national level by teams participating in competitions organized by the Central Commission of Foot-ball Bucharest. In August 1924, the PloieÃÂti Regional Football Sub-Committee was established as the first official football organization in the county, bringing together teams from Prahova and BuzÃÂu. The regional championship was divided into Category II and Category III, under the supervision of the Central Commission in Bucharest. The first champion of the Sub-Committee, Venus PloieÃÂti, took part in the promotion play-off for a place in the Bucharest championship.
In the summer of 1927, the Sub-Committee organized the first local championship, called District A, allowing the champion team to participate in the final tournament to determine RomaniaâÂÂs national champion. The 1927âÂÂ28 season included six teamsâÂÂfive from PloieÃÂti and one from BuzÃÂu. At the same time, Category I, District B PloieÃÂti was created, featuring teams from Câmpina, PloieÃÂti, and BuÃÂteni.
In 1950, the Romanian People's Republic underwent an administrative and territorial reorganization, dividing the country into regions and districts, each with its own football championship.
In 1968, following the new administrative and territorial reorganization of the country, each county established its own football championship, integrating teams from the former regional championships as well as those that had previously competed in town and rayon level competitions. The freshly formed Prahova County Championship was placed under the authority of the newly created Consiliul JudeÃÂean pentru EducaÃÂie FizicÃÂ ÃÂi Sport () in Prahova County.
Since then, the structure and organization of Liga IV Prahova, like many other county leagues, has undergone numerous changes. From 1968 to 1992, the top county competition was known as Campionatul JudeÃÂean (County Championship). Between 1992 and 1997, it was renamed Divizia C â Faza JudeÃÂeanà(Divizia C â County Phase), followed by Divizia D from 1997 to 2006, and Liga A Prahova from 2006 to the present.
The champions of each county association play against one another in a play-off to earn promotion to Liga III. Geographical criteria are taken into consideration when the play-offs are drawn. In total, there are 41 county champions plus the Bucharest municipal champion.