The MFA Elite Division, formerly known as the MDFA Elite Division, is the first tier of the Mumbai Football League competition.[6][7] In March 2022, the MFA Elite Division was rechristened as the Harwood Premier League, on the lines of the name that was once associated with the Mumbai's top division football stretching back to 1902.[8][9]
The teams play each other in two groups, MFA Elite Premier League for the private clubs and MFA Elite Corporate League for the institutional clubs, in a round-robin single leg format. The top three teams at the end of the league will be declared winners and runners up and will advance to the championship round called Harwood Champions League whose winner will win the top division. The teams finishing in the bottom at the end of the league phase will be relegated to the Super Division.[10]
Two separate leagues ran in competition to each other. The BDFA league retained the right to use the name "Harwood League", while the best teams eventually migrated to the WIFA league.
In 2000, the two leagues merged when MDFA and WIFA resolved their various disputes. The resultant league has since been run by the MDFA (affiliated to WIFA), with the restored title of The Harwood League.
Mumbai Football League Elite Division (The Harwood League)
The MFA Super Division,[15] formerly known as the MDFA Super Division, is a men's football league in Mumbai. The league serves as the second-tier, organized by the Mumbai District Football Association. The champions of the Super Division get promoted to the MFA Elite Division. The last-place teams in the groups get relegated to the First Division. It is contested by 33 clubs. The current champions are Reliance Foundation Youth Champs and Atlanta FC are runners-up.[16]
The Super Division is the second-highest in MFL organised by the Mumbai District Football Association.
All the teams in the division are divided into four or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games. The top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs.
The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round. The top two teams at the end of the league will be promoted to the Elite Division.
All the teams in the division will be divided into four or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
The team standing first and second after the completion of the round-robin playoff league shall be declared the winner and runner-up and will be promoted to the Super Division.
The teams in last place in each group after the completion of the preliminary league will be demoted to the Division Two.