Wikipedia - Extra-Liga

The Extra-Liga (Ukrainian: Екстра-ліга) is an association of futsal clubs of Ukraine and the top men's futsal league in the country. It is organized by the Association of Mini-Football of Ukraine which is a collective member of the Ukrainian Association of Football (formerly Football Federation of Ukraine). The Ukrainian Association of Mini-Football is not part of the Olympic movement, but is a collective members of the Ukrainian Association of Football.

History

In early 1990s futsal competitions along with other alternative types of association football such as beach football, football among women, others started to gain wider popularity worldwide and since 1996 there appeared continental competitions among European futsal clubs under auspices of UEFA.

The original Ukrainian championship among futsal clubs was founded in 1993 as a descendant of the general futsal movement among students in the Soviet Union. Prior to this, the Ukrainian teams played in the Soviet competitions that has been developing in late 1980s. The first Soviet competitions in 1990 and 1991 were conducted primarily in Ukraine. Among notable Ukrainian clubs of the Soviet period were Mekhanizator from Dnipropetrovsk, Syntez from Kremenchuk and others.

Following dissolution of the Soviet Union, the official Ukrainian competitions were reorganized after some pause in late 1993 as the Top League.

In 2011 a new Ukrainian futsal super league was formed, Extra-Liga, beginning in the 2011–12 season. Previously, the 8 highest finishing teams in the league advanced into the playoffs. The winner of the Championship playoffs gained qualification for the UEFA Futsal Cup.

Some regular association football clubs of Ukraine are fielding also their futsal squads, including both male and female.[] Other futsal clubs exist independently, while some such as MFC Interkas Kyiv originally competed in amateur competitions of association football before switching to futsal (indoor). Among notable footballers who competed in competitions of association football and later switched to futsal competitions is Stanislav Honcharenko.

**Ukraine - Ekstra Liga**

**Ukraine - Ekstra Liga** er den højeste futsalliga i Ukraine. Den blev grundlagt i 1993 og består af 12 hold, der spiller en dobbeltturnering i løbet af en sæson.

**Holdene**

Holdene i Ukraine - Ekstra Liga er:

* SK Prodexim Kherson
* Ivano-Frankivsk Prykarpattia
* MFC Energia Lviv
* MFC Uragan Ivano-Frankivsk
* Shakhtar Donetsk
* UMAN-DEKO
* HC Nikopol
* MFC Dobovets Cherkasy
* MFC Metalurh Zaporizhzhia
* FC Kharkiv
* MFC Politekhnik Kharkiv

**Format**

Ukraine - Ekstra Liga spilles i et dobbelt rundformet format, hvor hvert hold spiller to kampe mod hvert andet hold, én hjemme og én ude. De otte bedste hold går videre til slutspillet, hvor de spiller om mesterskabet.

**Historie**

Det mest succesfulde hold i Ukraine - Ekstra Liga er Shakhtar Donetsk, som har vundet ligaen 10 gange. Andre bemærkelsesværdige vindere omfatter MFC Energia Lviv og HC Nikopol.

**Internationale konkurrencer**

Vinderen af Ukraine - Ekstra Liga kvalificerer sig til UEFA Futsal Champions League, den største klubkonkurrence i europæisk futsal. Ukrainske hold har historisk set klaret sig godt i denne konkurrence, og Shakhtar Donetsk har nået finalen en gang.

**Attraktioner**

Ukraine - Ekstra Liga er kendt for sin høje kvalitet af spil og intense rivaliseringer. Ligaen tiltrækker også et stort antal fans, og kampene afholdes typisk i fyldte arenaer.