The following is the summary of the Swiss National League in the 1971–72 football season, both Nationalliga A and Nationalliga B. This was the 75th season of top-tier and the 74th season of second-tier football in Switzerland.
Overview The Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) had 28 member clubs at this time which were divided into two divisions of 14 teams each. The teams played a double round-robin to decide their table positions. Two points were awarded for a win, and one point was awarded for a draw. The top tier (NLA) was contested by the top 12 teams from the previous season and the two newly promoted teams St. Gallen and FC Grenchen. This season's champions would qualify for the 1972–73 European Cup. The second and third placed teams were to be qualified for the 1972–73 UEFA Cup, but because second placed Zürich won the 1971–72 Swiss Cup, these UEFA rights were passed down to the third and fourth placed teams. The last two placed teams were to be relegated to the 1972–73 NLB.
The second-tier (NLB) was contested by the two teams that had been relegated from the NLA, Bellinzona and Fribourg, the teams that had been in third to twelfth position last season and the two newly promoted teams CS Chênois and AS Gambarogno. The top two teams at the end of the season would be promoted to the 1972–73 NLA and the last two teams would be relegated to the 1972–73 Swiss 1. Liga.
Nationalliga A The first round of the NLA was played on 14 August 1971. After playing 13 rounds, completed on 12 December, there was a winter break until the 14th round was held on 5 March 1972. The season had 26 rounds and was completed on 10 June 1972.
Teams, locations Team Based in Canton Stadium Capacity FC Basel Basel St. Jakob Stadium FC Biel-Bienne Biel/Bienne Stadion Gurzelen Grasshopper Club ZürichZürich Hardturm FC Grenchen Grenchen Stadium Brühl FC La Chaux-de-Fonds La Chaux-de-Fonds Centre Sportif de la Charrière FC Lausanne-Sport Lausanne Pontaise FC Lugano Lugano Cornaredo Stadium FC Luzern Lucerne Stadion Allmend FC St. GallenSt. GallenEspenmoosServette FCGenevaStade des CharmillesFC SionSionStade de Tourbillon FC Winterthur Winterthur Schützenwiese BSC Young BoysBernWankdorf Stadium FC Zürich Zürich Letzigrund
Final league table
Relegation play out The decider was played on 13 June 1972 at the Hardturm in Zürich.
St. Gallen won and remained in the top-level. Luzern were relegated to 1972–73 Nationalliga B.
Results
Attendances
Source:
# Club Average attendance Highest attendance 1 Basel 18,769 56,000 2 Young Boys 10,131 22,500 3 Zürich 9,662 32,000 4 Lausanne 7,885 18,000 5 GCZ 7,323 29,500 6 Luzern 6,582 15,000 7 Grenchen 5,731 10,500 8 Servette 5,723 13,000 9 Sion 5,492 9,500 10 St. Gallen 5,431 9,600 11 Winterthur 4,769 10,500 12 Biel-Bienne 4,038 8,500 13 La Chaux-de-Fonds 3,385 8,000 14 Lugano 3,054 8,000
Nationalliga B Teams, locations Team Based in Canton Stadium Capacity FC Aarau Aarau Stadion Brügglifeld AC Bellinzona Bellinzona Stadio Comunale Bellinzona SC Brühl St. Gallen Paul-Grüninger-Stadion CS Chênois Thônex Stade des Trois-Chêne FC Chiasso Chiasso Stadio Comunale Riva IV Étoile Carouge FC Carouge Stade de la Fontenette FC Fribourg Fribourg Stade Universitaire AS Gambarogno Gambarogno Centro Sportivo Regionale Magadino FC Martigny-Sports Martigny Stade d'Octodure Mendrisiostar Mendrisio Centro Sportivo Comunale FC Monthey Monthey Stade Philippe Pottier Vevey-Sports Vevey Stade de Copet FC Wettingen Wettingen Stadion Altenburg FC Xamax Neuchâtel Stade de la Maladière
Final league table
Further in Swiss football 1971–72 Swiss Cup 1971–72 Swiss 1. Liga
References
Sources Switzerland 1971–72 at RSSSF