The TFF 3. Lig (), currently referred to as Nesine 3. Lig for sponsorship reasons, is the fourth level in the Turkish football league system. It was founded in the 2001âÂÂ02 season as a continuation of then third level division Turkish Third Football League.
The league is played with 64 teams in four groups. The winners of each group are directly promoted to TFF Second League. In each group the 2nd placed teams through 6th placed teams play promotion play-offs to determine the last two teams to be promoted. Each runner-up placed team of every group will play in the play-off 3rd round. The numbers 3 and 6 and the numbers 4 and numbers 5 will compete in the 1st round in a single match against each other, the numbers 3 and 4 having the home advantage. In the 2nd round the winners of the 1st round will compete against each other in a home and away game. The higher ranked clubs in the league have the home advantage in the second game. In the 3rd round the winners of the second round will play against the league runner-ups in a home and away match, the latter having the home advantage. The play-off finals will be between the winners of the 3rd round in group I versus II and between group III versus IV. The bottom three teams in each group are relegated to Turkish Regional Amateur League.
League was founded in 1967âÂÂ68. In the first year 17 teams competed. Two teams relegated from Turkish Second Football League: BeyoÃÂluspor, Davutpaà Âa. TekirdaÃÂspor, ÃÂanakkalespor, ÃÂorumspor, ElazñÃÂspor, MuÃÂlaspor, Düzcespor, Eskià Âehir Demirspor, Kñrñkkalespor, Nazillispor (founded in 1967 and dissolved in 1975), Konya ðdman Yurdu, Tarsus ðdman Yurdu, Ceyhanspor, Lüleburgazspor, TekirdaÃÂspor, ðskenderunspor, and Hatayspor were other teams whose applications were accepted by TFF. At the end of the season winner promoted to TFF Second League, no team relegated.
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Promotion from amateur leagues:
In 1968âÂÂ69 new clubs joined: Amasyaspor, Burdurspor, Diyarbakñrspor, Ispartaspor, Rizespor, Ankara Sanayi Barbaros. Two groups were formed on geographical basis: Red Group for East and White Group for West. Each group contained 14 teams and one best promoted and one worst relegated in each group.
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Promotion from amateur leagues:
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion from amateur leagues:
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Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
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League was abandoned after the season. All of the teams promoted to 1980-81 Turkish Second Football League
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League was not played in 1980âÂÂ81, 1981âÂÂ82, 1982âÂÂ83 and 1983âÂÂ84 seasons. League was refounded after four seasons.
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Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
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TFF declared no relegation but announced that professional clubs will be represented only one team in all professional leagues.
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Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
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Source: TFF. Turkish-Soccer archives and mackolik.com.
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion from amateur leagues:
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion from amateur leagues: ðskenderun DÃÂ, Nevà Âehirspor, Hatay Köy Hizmetleri, Arsinspor, Karsspor, Mecidiyeköy, Yeni Burdur Gençlik, Aroma Akseki.
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion from amateur leagues: DeÃÂirmenderespor, Gazi Belediyespor, Hopaspor, Afyonkarahisarspor, Nilüfer Belediyespor, Konya à Âekerspor, Orhangazispor, Küçükçekmecespor.
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion from amateur leagues: Belediye Vanspor, BaÃÂlum Belediyespor, Sürmenespor, Bozüyükspor, Balñkesirspor, Tepecik Belediyespor, Orhangazi GençlerbirliÃÂi.
Promotion and relegation:
Promotion from amateur leagues: Körfez Belediyespor, Konya à Âekerspor, Tavà Âanlñ B TKð Linyit, Torbalñspor, Bafra Belediyespor, Malatya Belediyespor, Bingöl Belediyespor.
Promotion and relegation:
In 2008âÂÂ09 season the league contained 51 clubs spread out over 5 groups with 10 or 11 clubs. The groups were determined in regions. The top two clubs from each group qualified to the Promotion Group. The remaining groups with other teams were called Classification Groups. Top four teams in Promotion Group are directly promoted to TFF Second League. The three teams classified 5th to 7th in Promotion Group join the extra play-offs with the top teams from each of the 5 Classifying Groups. These 8 teams play a knockout competition (in neutral venue) to determine the last two teams to be promoted. The bottom two teams of Classifying Groups are relegated to the Amateur Leagues.
Promotion from amateur leagues: Menemen Belediyespor, Bandñrmaspor, Keçiören Belediyespor, TKð Tavà Âanlñ Linyitspor, BaÃÂlar Vuralspor.
Promotion and relegation:
In 2009âÂÂ10 season league was played by 53 teams, 11 teams in groups 1âÂÂ4 and 9 teams in group 5. Top two teams of ranking groups again promoted to promotion group. Top two teams of promotion group directly promoted to 2010âÂÂ11 TFF Second League. The Third team was determined by extra play-offs between 3rdâÂÂ5th teams of promotion group and winners of classification groups. Last three teams in groups 1âÂÂ4 and last team in group 5 were relegated to Regional Amateur League.
Promotion from amateur leagues: Kñrñkhanspor, Bayrampaà Âaspor, ÃÂerkezköy Belediyespor, Tekirova Belediyespor, MuÃÂlaspor, Trabzon Yalñspor.
Promotion and relegation:
In 2010âÂÂ11 season status of the league has been changed. League is played with 54 teams in three groups, 18 in each. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom three teams in each group were relegated to Turkish Regional Amateur League.
Promotion from amateur leagues: Sivas Dört Eylül Belediyespor, Kñrklarelispor, ðskenderunspor 1967, Kepez Belediyespor, Sancaktepe Belediyespor.
Promotion and relegation:
Source: Turkish Soccer and TFF league page
In 2011âÂÂ12 season status of the league has been changed. League is played with 57 teams in three groups, 19 in each. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom four teams in each group were relegated to Turkish Regional Amateur League.
Promotion from amateur leagues: Erzurum Büyükà Âehir Belediyespor, Erganispor, Beà Âikdüzüspor, ÃÂarà Âambaspor, ElazñàBelediyespor, Manavgat Evrensekispor, Kilimli Belediyespor, Aydñnspor 1923, Yeni Sandñklñ Belediyespor, Maltepespor, ÃÂmraniyespor, Küçükçekmecespor
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In 2012âÂÂ13 season status of the league has been changed. League is played with 54 teams in three groups, 18 in each. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom three teams in each group are relegated to Turkish Regional Amateur League.
Promotion from Turkish Regional Amateur League: Bergama Belediyespor, Silivrispor, Kahramanmaraà  Belediyespor, Kayseri à Âekerspor, ÃÂorum Belediyespor, Isparta Emrespor, Fatih Karagümrük SK, Derince Belediyespor and Refahiyespor
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In 2013âÂÂ14 season league is played with 54 teams in three groups, 18 in each. 4 teams relegated from 2012âÂÂ13 TFF Second League: Denizli Belediyespor, ÃÂamlñdere à Âekerspor, ÃÂnyespor, Sakaryaspor. Eleven teams promoted from 2012âÂÂ13 Turkish Regional Amateur League. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom three teams in each group are relegated to Turkish Regional Amateur League.
Promotion from Turkish Regional Amateur League: Trabzon Düzyurtspor, Yeni Diyarbakñrspor, 1930 Bafraspor, Payas Belediyespor 1975, 68 Yeni Aksarayspor, Adliyespor, Kñzñlcabölükspor, Balçova Belediyespor, Ayvalñkgücü Belediyespor, ÃÂñksalñnspor and Tuzlaspor
Promotion and relegation:
Source: TFF Third League archive.
In 2014âÂÂ15 season league is played with 54 teams in three groups, 18 in each. 6 teams relegated from 2012âÂÂ13 TFF Second League: ÃÂanakkale Dardanelspor, Gaziosmanpaà Âaspor, ÃÂankñrñspor, Eyüpspor, ðstanbul Güngörenspor and Bozüyükspor. Nine teams promoted from 2013âÂÂ14 Turkish Regional Amateur League. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom three teams in each group are relegated to Turkish Regional Amateur League.
Promotion from Turkish Regional Amateur League: Bayburt ðl ÃÂzel ðdarespor, Erzin Belediyespor, NiÃÂde Belediyespor, Etimesgut Belediyespor, ÃÂine Madranspor, Tire 1922 Spor, Zonguldak Kömürspor, ÃÂatalcaspor and Halide Edip Adñvar SK
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In 2015âÂÂ16 season league was played with 57 teams in three groups, 19 in each. Six teams relegated from 2012âÂÂ13 TFF Second League: ÃÂanakkale Dardanelspor, Gaziosmanpaà Âaspor, ÃÂankñrñspor, Eyüpspor, ðstanbul Güngörenspor and Bozüyükspor. Nine teams promoted from 2013âÂÂ14 Turkish Regional Amateur League. The groups were determined by casting lots on a non-regional basis. The winners of each group directly promotes to TFF Second League. In each group 2nd through 5th teams play promotion play-offs to determine second team to be promoted to TFF Second League. Bottom four teams in each group are relegated to Turkish Regional Amateur League. However, Cizre Spor did not field a team in the second half of the season due to operations against the PKK in Cizre. For this reason, Cizre Spor was not relegated from the 3rd League.
Promotion from Turkish Regional Amateur League: Cizre Spor, Yomraspor, Dersimspor, Kozan Belediyespor, Kastamonuspor 1966, Zara Belediyespor, Bodrum Belediye Bodrumspor, Manisa Büyükà Âehir Belediyespor, Sultanbeyli Belediyespor, Düzcespor and TekirdaÃÂspor
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