Vitonen or V divisioona is the seventh level in the Finnish football league system and comprises 228 teams. The V divisioona was introduced in 1973 and in the mid-1990s became known as the Vitonen (Number Five in English and Femman in Swedish). Until the end of 2023, Vitonen was the sixth-highest level in Finnish football league system, but after the formation of the new second-tier Ykkösliiga, Vitonen dropped down one level in pyramid to create a new seventh-tier Vitonen.
| Country | Finland |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 228 |
| Level on pyramid | 6 (1973–2023) 7 (2024–) |
| Promotion to | Nelonen |
| Relegation to | Kutonen |
| Current: 2022 Vitonen | |
The competition
There are 228 clubs in the Vitonen, divided in 22 groups of 7 to 19 teams each representing a geographical area. During the course of a season (starting in April and ending in October) each club normally plays the others twice, once at their home ground and once at that of their opponents. The exception is the 19 team Keski-Suomi division where teams play each other once. The top team in each Vitonen group is normally promoted or qualifies for a promotion playoff to the Nelonen and the lowest placed teams may be relegated to the Kutonen.[1]
Administration
District Football Associations
The Vitonen is administered by 11 of the District Football Associations of the Football Association of Finland (SPL). Responsibilities for the 22 sections are divided as follows:
- SPL Helsinki - 3 sections
- SPL Uusimaa - 4 sections
- SPL Kaakkois-Suomi - 2 sections
- SPL Itä-Suomi - 4 sections
- SPL Keski-Suomi - 1 section
- SPL Pohjois-Suomi - 1 section
- SPL Keski-Pohjanmaa - 1 section
- SPL Vaasa - 1 section
- SPL Satakunta - 1 section
- SPL Tampere - 2 sections
- SPL Turku - 2 sections
Teams within the Vitonen are eligible to compete in the Suomen Cup and the Suomen Regions' Cup. The clubs are normally listed in an abbreviated form and their full names can be viewed by referring to the List of clubs or the relevant District Association.
Current clubs - 2021-Season
| Helsinki - Lohko 1 (Section 1) | Helsinki - Lohko 2 (Section 2) | Helsinki - Lohko 3 (Section 3) |
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| Uusimaa - Lohko 1 (Section 1) | Uusimaa - Lohko 2 (Section 2) | Uusimaa - Lohko 3 (Section 3) |
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| Uusimaa - Lohko 4 (Section 4) | Kaakkois-Suomi (South-East Finland) Itälohko (East Section) | Kaakkois-Suomi (South-East Finland) Länsilohko (West Section) |
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| Itä-Suomi (Eastern Finland) - Lohko A (Section A) | Itä-Suomi (Eastern Finland) - Lohko B (Section B) | Itä-Suomi (Eastern Finland) - Lohko C (Section C) |
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| Itä-Suomi (Eastern Finland) - Lohko D (Section D) | Keski-Suomi (Central Finland) | Pohjois-Suomi (Northern Finland) - Oulu |
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| Keski-Pohjanmaa (Central Ostrobothnia) | Vaasa | Satakunta |
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| Tampere - Lohko 1 (Section 1) | Tampere - Lohko 2 (Section 2) | Turku - Lohko 1 (Section 1) |
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| Turku - Lohko 2 (Section 2) | ||
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Seasons - League Tables
| 2000s: | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| 2010s: | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| 2020s: | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |