The 2023–24 Gibraltar Football League season was the fifth season of the Gibraltar Football League in Gibraltar (and second under its current name), and the 125th season of football on the territory overall. The league began on 16 September 2023. Lincoln Red Imps were the reigning champions, winning their third successive title in April 2023. Due to the league's fall down the UEFA coefficient rankings, this season only had 2 teams qualify for the UEFA Conference League.
The winners (Lincoln Red Imps, their sixth consecutive title win and twenty-eighth overall) qualified for the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. The runners-up (St Joseph's) and third-placed team (FCB Magpies) qualified for the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League first qualifying round.
Format The 2023–24 season saw a change in the format of the GFL. Instead of playing one round of fixtures before splitting, teams played each other twice for a total of 20 games this season. After the second round of games, the top 6 entered the GFL Championship Group, where each team played each other once to decide the league champion. However, the Challenge Group was scrapped.
Controversy In November 2023, it was reported that Lynx had been planning to report the Gibraltar Football Association to UEFA and FIFA after it was revealed that Lincoln Red Imps had fielded an ineligible player (believed to be Ibrahim Ayew) in their opening league match, which Lincoln had won 3-2. The GFA's ruling stated that though the player was suspended, Lincoln would not be punished for the mistake. This was despite the fact that Mons Calpe had been punished for a similar infraction the previous season. This led to complaints of bias and corruption within the GFA which formed the basis of the Lynx complaint.Lynx FC criticises the GFA and will go to UEFA and FIFA following the case of undue alignment of Lincoln Red Imps (in Spanish) Al Sol de la Costa. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
Lynx subsequently finished 7th in the league, missing out on the Championship Group by a single point.
Teams
The following clubs compete in the 2023–24 season.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Club sponsor 2022–23 3rd Joma 10th 2nd 11th 6th Damex 1st 9th 4th Manchester 62 Joma 8th Givova FanPlay 365 7th 5th
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentFCB Magpies Nathan Rooney departs Magpies Bruno's Magpies. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023. Resigned 17 May 2023 Pre-season 1 June 2023Alfonso Cortijo Returns Bruno's Magpies. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.Manchester 62 Appointed assistant coach 31 May 2023 20 June 2023Anthony Limbrick appointed manager Manchester 62. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.Europa Point Thanks for all your hard work Garry Europa Point FC. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023. Signed by Bruno's Magpies 6 July 2023 12 July 2023Officiellt: Dalibor Savic till Europa Point FC Fotbolltransfers. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023. Glacis United Sacked 16 August 2023 1 September 2023 Europa Mutual consent 25 August 2023 25 August 2023 FCB Magpies Promoted to Director 1 September 2023Official Announcement Bruno's Magpies. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023. 1 September 2023 Mons Calpe Sacked 2 October 2023David Guti deja de ser el entrenador del Mons Calpe SC Al Sol de la Costa. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023. 8th 3 October 2023Manchester 62 Resigned 23 November 2023 6th 3 December 2023Europa Sacked 6 December 2023 10th 6 December 2023Manchester 62 End of caretaker spell 14 December 2023 4th 15 December 2023Europa 1 January 2024 10th 1 January 2024College 1975 Resigned 17 February 2024 10th 18 February 2024Europa Point End of contract 30 April 2024Officiellt: Dalibor Savic lämnar Europa Point FC fotbolltransfers. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024. 6th 1 May 2024
Regular season During the regular season, each team faced each other twice (once at home at once away), before the league is split into two (with only the top six teams advancing to the GFL Championship Group).
League table
Results
GFL Championship Group The top six teams from the regular season contest the GFL Championship Group to decide the league champion. Results from the regular season were carried over into this round.
League table
Results
Season statistics Scoring Top scorers As of 12 May 2024. RankPlayerClubGoals1 JuanfriLincoln Red Imps172 Hugo JesslénEuropa Point163 Pablo RodríguezSt Joseph's154 Connor Flynn-GillespieLynx145 LabraEuropa126 Víctor VillacañasLincoln Red Imps107 Aldair RuizManchester 6298 Facu ÁlvarezFCB Magpies8 Seba DíazFCB Magpies José GiráldezFCB Magpies Tjay De BarrLincoln Red Imps Ahmed SalamManchester 62 Hugo BartkowiakMons Calpe
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Manchester 62 Lions Gibraltar 7–0 (H) 4 Europa Point College 1975 5–0 (A) FCB Magpies Glacis United 3–0 (H) 4 Europa Lions Gibraltar 5–0 (A) Lincoln Red Imps College 1975 7–0 (H) Lynx Lions Gibraltar 4–0 (A) FCB Magpies College 1975 7–2 (H) 4 Lincoln Red Imps Manchester 62 10–1 (A) St Joseph's Manchester 62 5–0 (A)
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1 Bradley BandaSt Joseph's132 Nauzet SantanaLincoln Red Imps113 Johannes StrömEuropa Point94 Christian LopezFCB Magpies5 Bradley AvellanoLynx6 Marcos ZappacostaEuropa3 Borja ValadésLions Gibraltar Daniel TudelaMons Calpe9 Walid BirrouGlacis United2 Dayle ColeingLincoln Red Imps Fernando CantoManchester 62 Alan MartinManchester 62 Christian FraizMons Calpe
See also 2023–24 Gibraltar Intermediate League 2023–24 Gibraltar Women's Football League
References
External links GFL Website Gibraltar Football Association