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Lebanese football club From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BFA Sporting (Arabic: بي اف اي سبورتينغ), or simply Sporting, is a football club based in Beirut, Lebanon, that competes in the Lebanese Second Division. The club was founded in 1963, and first competed in the Lebanese football league system in 1997.
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| Full name | BFA Sporting | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short name | Sporting | ||
| Founded | 23 October 1963, as Al Jihad SC | ||
| Ground | Rafic Hariri Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 | ||
| Chairman | Joseph Bacha | ||
| Manager | Rami El-Ladki | ||
| League | Lebanese Second Division | ||
| 2023–24 | Lebanese Second Division, 8th of 12 | ||
| Website | https://sportingbeirut.com/ | ||
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BFA Sporting first competed in the Lebanese Premier League in 2021, having won the 2020–21 Lebanese Second Division. In 2023, they entered into a partnership with Beirut Football Academy.
On 23 October 1963, Al Jihad SC (Arabic: نادي الجهاد الرياضي), based in Hay El Sellom, a district in Beirut, was formally recognized as a non-profit sports and cultural organization.[1] They played their first official season in 1997, in the Lebanese Fifth Division,[1] which they won in 1999–2000.[2] In 2007–08 they won the Lebanese Third Division,[1] and were promoted to the Lebanese Second Division.[3]
On 2 September 2009, the club relocated to Ghobeiry, and changed their name to Al Khoyol FC (Arabic: نادي الخيول الرياضي).[4]
In 2009–10, Khoyol lost a decisive match for promotion to the Lebanese Premier League against Akhaa Ahli Aley.[5] The following season, in 2010–11, Khoyol lost to Ahli Saida in another decisive promotion match.[5] In both instances, Khoyol complained to the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) for supposed match fixing.[5]
In 2014, Khoyol were relegated to the Third Division.[1]
On 24 April 2018, the club changed their name to AC Sporting (Arabic: نادي سبورتينغ الرياضي) and moved to Beirut:[6] they promptly gained promotion to the Lebanese Second Division in 2019, coming first in the Lebanese Third Division.[7] Sporting won the 2020–21 Lebanese Second Division,[8] and gained promotion to the Lebanese Premier League for the first time in their history.[9] After finishing in last place, Sporting were relegated back to the Second Division.[10]
On 26 June 2023, the club issued a statement announcing that it had been acquired by Australian-Lebanese businessman Joseph Bacha, owner of Telford Civil. They also entered into a partnership with Beirut Football Academy, and renamed the club into BFA Sporting (Arabic: بي اف اي سبورتينغ).[11]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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