The article contains information about the 2019–20 Iran 3rd Division football season. This is the 4th rated football league in Iran after the Persian Gulf Cup, Azadegan League, and 2nd Division. The league started from 3 September 2019.[1]
In total 85 teams (65 teams in the first round in 5 groups, 20 teams in second round) were planned to compete in this season's competitions.[2]
After concerns about COVID-19 pandemic in Iran the matches has been postponed at 1 March 2020 while six weeks of the Second Round and the Play-off matches was remained. The season continued from 30 July 2020.
First round
Each team who lose 2 matches, will be relegated 2 divisions for next season. Therefore, in this stage, the teams which lose 2 matches, will be eligible to play in the provincial 2nd division for 2020–21 season (and not eligible to play in the provincial 1st division)
The top 2 teams from each group and two best 3rd placed teams (total 12 teams) will advance to the Second Round. 3 worth ranked 3ed teams and the teams ranked 4th and 5th in each group and 2 best 6th placed teams (total 15 teams) will be eligible to play in the First Round of next season. 3 worth ranked 6th teams and the teams ranked 7th and lower will be relegated to Provincial Leagues.[3][4] However all the three worst 6th placed team, remained and not relegated, due to direct relegation of higher-level league to Privincal leagues instead of 3rd Division - 1st Stage (This level).
Qualified teams
Teams which are eligible to play in this round are as follows:
Updated to match(es) played on 30 November 2019. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Ranking of six-placed teams
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Darya Babol
12
6
2
4
20
13
+7
20
2
Rezvani Isfahan
12
5
4
3
19
16
+3
19
3
Hermas Fateh Shiran Tabriz
12
6
1
5
17
16
+1
19
Remained in 3rd Division - 1st Stage 2020–21 after relegation
4
Shahrvand Ramsar
12
5
3
4
24
16
+8
18
5
Roz Mooket Boroujen
12
4
2
6
13
19
−6
14
Updated to match(es) played on 30 November 2019. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Hermas Fateh Shiran Tabriz, Shahrvand Ramsar and Roz Mooket Boroujen should have relegated to Provincial Leagues in the next season as the three worst 6th placed teams. But due to direct relegation of Moghavemat Novin Tehran, Azarab Arak and Shahrdari Ardabil from 3rd Division - 2nd Stage to Provincial Leagues (instead of 3rd Division - 1st Stage), they remained in 3rd Division - 1st Stage and not relegated.
Second round
Second Round will be started after first round on 17 December 2019[11]
Qualified teams
Relegated from 2nd Division (2 Teams):
Esteghlal Ahvaz
Javan Novin Sari (Replaced: Mes Shahre Babak)
Relegated from 1st Division (According to Competition Regulations) (2 Teams):
Each group's winner (Total 3 teams) will be promoted to the next season's 2nd Division.
Each group's runner-up and the best 3rd placed team among 3 groups (Total 4 teams), will qualify to the Play-off round. In Play-off Round, teams were play two knockout rounds, where the winner will be promoted to the next season's 2nd Division.
Teams ranked 8th, 9th and 10th in each group and the worst 7th-placed team among 3 groups (Total 10 teams) will be relegated to 1st Stage of 3rd Division in next season.
Updated to match(es) played on 2 September 2020. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) play-off at neutral venue.
Ranking of seventh-placed teams
The results against the tenth-placed team were not counted when determining the ranking of the seventh placed teams.[19]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1
Mohajer Novin Mashhad
16
4
7
5
19
21
−2
19
2
Sepahan Novin Isfahan
16
4
6
6
21
22
−1
18
3
Moghavemat Astara
16
2
7
7
19
24
−5
13
Remained in 3rd Division - 2nd Stage 2020–21 after relegation
Updated to match(es) played on 2 September 2020. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) play-off at neutral venue.
Moghavemat Astara should have relegated to 3rd Division - 1st Stage as the worst 7th placed team, But due to direct relegation of Karoon Arvand Khorramshahr from 2nd division to 3rd Division - 1st Stage (instead of 3rd Division - 2nd Stage), they remained in 3rd Division - 2nd Stage and not relegated.[21]