The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) executive committee convened and decided that there will be no teams relegated from the Ethiopian Premier League following the 2024/25 season. The EFF reached this decision after nullifying the league results of Sidama Coffee, Mechal, and Hawassa Ketema for fielding players who were penalized in connection with breaches of transfer regulations.
The EFF officially disclosed that it has instructed the Ethiopian Premier League Share Company (EPLSC) to revise the final standings accordingly. The three clubs will now be placed at the bottom of the table but in a surprising move, no team will be relegated. The EFF also announced that the league should investigate fourteen top flight clubs for potential violations of transfer regulations, particularly regarding payments made through third parties.
This development means that Mekele 70 Enderta, Adama Ketema, Sihul Shire, and Wolwalo Adigrat University—all of whom were previously relegated—will retain their status in the top division. The league will now expand to twenty clubs, with four teams set to be relegated in the 2025/26 season.
The EFF further added that Mechal, Sidama Coffee, and Hawassa Ketema must comply with the EPLSC’s ruling. Penalized players have been instructed to return the money received via third-party payments. A total of fifteen players were sanctioned by the league, but only one—Mekele 70 Enderta midfielder Yeabsera Tesfaye—complied by not participating in any matches.
In addition, the EFF has suspended all transfers between Premier League clubs until the investigation concludes. Just a few hours ago, the EFF also stripped Sidama Coffee of their Ethiopian Cup title and awarded it to Wolayta Dicha.
