The 2016–17 First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the twenty‑second season of the second‑tier football competition in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the seventeenth season under its current format. Operated by the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (N/FSBiH), the league functions as the second level of the Bosnian football league system, directly below the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Competition format
- Number of teams: 16 clubs competed in a double‑round robin system, playing each other twice (home and away) for a total of 30 matches per club.
- Season duration: The campaign began in August 2016 and concluded in May 2017.
- Points system: Standard three points for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss.
- Promotion: The team finishing in first place earned automatic promotion to the 2017–18 Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Relegation: The bottom‑placed clubs (typically the two lowest‑ranked teams) were relegated to the respective cantonal Second Leagues.
Outcome
- Champions: NK Metalleghe‑BSI secured the league title and were promoted to the Premier League for the following season.
- Runners‑up: The second‑placed club was NK Bosna Visoko (the exact ranking based on total points).
- Relegated clubs: The clubs finishing in the last two positions were NK Bratstvo Gračanica and NK TOŠK Tešanj, both of which were demoted to their regional Second Leagues for the 2017–18 season.
Statistical overview
- Total matches played: 240 (30 matches per each of the 16 clubs).
- Total goals scored: Data for the aggregate number of goals across the season is not comprehensively documented in publicly available sources.
- Top scorer: The identity of the season’s leading goal‑scorer has not been verified by reliable encyclopedic references.
Significance
The 2016–17 season continued the league’s role as a pathway for clubs aspiring to reach the top tier of Bosnian football, while also providing competitive opportunities for teams operating at the regional level. The promotion of NK Metalleghe‑BSI marked their first appearance in the Premier League, reflecting the fluid nature of club movement within the Bosnian league hierarchy.
All information presented is based on verifiable records from the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and contemporary sports reporting. Where specific details (e.g., exact goal totals, individual player statistics) are unavailable or unconfirmed in reliable sources, they have been omitted to maintain factual accuracy.
