TL;DR
- European Regional Leagues divided into Accredited and Non-Accredited categories with distinct requirements
- Accredited leagues feature two-division systems with promotion/relegation and mandatory offline events
- Non-accredited leagues maintain regional flexibility with varied formats and reduced infrastructure demands
- Academy teams face new restrictions while amateur tournament opportunities expand
- Global Contract Database access limited to Accredited league players only
Riot Games continues to implement comprehensive structural reforms across Europe’s League of Legends competitive ecosystem. These strategic adjustments represent the most significant overhaul to regional league operations in recent years, designed to elevate competitive standards while expanding developmental pathways.
The company had previously outlined its intention to categorize Regional Leagues (RELs) into distinct “Accredited” and “Non-Accredited” classifications. Recent official communications provide detailed specifications for the 2022 competitive landscape. These REL modifications specifically target enhanced infrastructure development for semi-professional League of Legends competitors throughout European territories.
The comprehensive roster of accredited RELs encompasses Spain’s Superliga, France’s Ligue Française, the Prime League covering German-speaking territories, the Ultraliga serving Eastern European nations, and the Northern League of Legends Championship for Scandinavian regions. Following implementation of the REL restructuring, these certified competitions must maintain annual offline event hosting requirements to preserve their accredited status.
Player representation from accredited leagues exclusively gains inclusion in Riot’s Global Contract Database (GCD), while non-accredited league participants will not have contractual documentation accessible through this centralized system.
For accredited REL organizations, the competitive framework incorporates first and second divisions each comprising ten competing organizations. Both tiers feature regular season formats utilizing double round-robin scheduling with best-of-one match configurations.
Upper division postseason competition involves six qualifying teams participating in double-elimination bracket structures. Lower division playoffs employ four-team single-elimination knockout formats without double-elimination provisions.
At each split conclusion, the top two lower division squads compete against the bottom two upper division teams. This structural approach mirrors traditional major region league operations, incorporating promotion and relegation tournaments following competitive splits.
The non-accredited REL category includes Italy’s PG Nationals, the Esports Balkan League, the Greek Legends League, the Benelux Elite Series, Hitpoint Masters for Central Europe, and Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa. These non-accredited competitions face no mandatory offline event obligations post-restructuring.
Non-accredited REL operational parameters demonstrate greater flexibility. First divisions typically feature eight competing organizations with standard split formats and four-team single-elimination playoff structures.
Lower division configurations for these leagues exhibit significant regional variation without standardized promotion and relegation mechanisms. This structural diversity allows localized adaptation to regional market conditions and developmental needs.
Post-restructuring, academy team participation faces new restrictions prohibiting competition in leagues where promotion could place them in the same division as their parent organization’s primary roster. To counterbalance these limitations, Riot actively pursues expansion of amateur tournament circuits to preserve competitive opportunities.
Organizations must carefully evaluate their competitive positioning within this new framework. The division between accredited and non-accredited status creates distinct developmental trajectories with varying resource requirements and competitive expectations.
Strategic planning should account for the differential infrastructure demands between league categories. Accredited leagues require significant investment in offline event capabilities, while non-accredited leagues offer more flexible operational models.
Additional operational specifics will emerge as REL organizations transition toward their reconfigured formats throughout 2022. These structural modifications present compelling opportunities for competitive enthusiasts and developing players across the European ecosystem.
The restructuring timeline allows for phased implementation, with organizations having adequate preparation periods for structural compliance. Regional impact assessments suggest varied effects across different territories, with some markets positioned for accelerated growth while others may experience consolidation phases.
Growth projections indicate potential expansion of the accredited league system as regional ecosystems mature and demonstrate operational capability. The flexibility built into the non-accredited framework provides scalable pathways for emerging competitive regions.
Action Checklist
- Evaluate your organization’s positioning within the new accredited/non-accredited framework
- Review infrastructure requirements for accredited league compliance, particularly offline event capabilities
- Develop strategic plan accounting for new academy team restrictions and expanded amateur tournament opportunities
- Assess player development pathways considering GCD access limitations for non-accredited leagues
- Monitor emerging details and adjust organizational strategy accordingly throughout 2022 implementation
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Massive REL changes coming to European LoL esports Complete guide to 2022 European Regional League restructuring with strategic insights for players and teams