The 1943–44 1. Liga season was the 12th season of the 1. Liga since its creation in 1931. At this time, the 1. Liga was the second-tier of the Swiss football league system, next season it would become the third-tier.
Overview Preamble In Switzerland during the second world war period, sport became an integral part of the "spiritual national defense". This was a political and cultural movement that had already become increasingly important during the late 1930s. Politicians, intellectuals and media professionals had increasingly called for measures to strengthen Switzerland's basic cultural values. Since the Nationalliga games were also considered to be one of the activities that seemed important for maintaining the morale of the population, the military authorities put considerably fewer obstacles in the way of the top players and leading clubs as they had during the previous World War.
ASF/SFV Therefore, it came about that the Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) expanded themselves. The decision of the extraordinary assembly, held on 9 October 1943 in Lugano, was to double the number of members to 28 clubs for the 1944–45 season. The Nationalliga was then to be divided into two strength classes each with 14 teams. The top-tier would become the Nationalliga A (NLA) and a new second-tier, called Nationalliga B (NLB), would be formed with the 14 best teams of this 1. Liga season.
Format There were 25 clubs competing in the 1. Liga this season. The teams were divided into two regional groups, the eastern group with 12 teams, the western group with 13 teams. Within each group, the teams would play a double round-robin to decide their league position. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a draw. The two group winners then contested a play-off to decide the overall 1. Liga championship and the one promotion-slot to the top-tier. The best seven placed teams in each group would be assigned to the newly created NLB. The remaining teams would remain in the 1. Liga, which in the next season would become the third-tier with three groups, each with 10 clubs. In this season there was no relegations to the 2. Liga, which would become the new fourth-tier.
Group West Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Bern Bern Stadion Neufeld US Bienne-Boujean Biel/Bienne CA Genève Geneva SC Derendingen Derendingen Heidenegg FC Étoile-Sporting La Chaux-de-Fonds Les Foulets / Terrain des Eplatures / FC Fribourg Fribourg Stade Universitaire FC Helvetia Bern Bern Spitalacker, Bern CS International Genève Geneva FC Montreux-Sports Montreux Stade de Chailly FC Renens Renens Zone sportive du Censuy FC Solothurn Solothurn Stadion FC Solothurn Urania Genève Sport Genève Stade de Frontenex Vevey Sports Vevey Stade de Copet
Final league table
Group East Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Aarau Aarau Stadion Brügglifeld AC Bellinzona Bellinzona Stadio Comunale Bellinzona FC Birsfelden Birsfelden Sternenfeld SC Brühl St. Gallen Paul-Grüninger-Stadion FC Chiasso Chiasso Stadio Comunale Riva IV FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof FC Kickers Luzern Lucerne Stadion Auf Tribschen SC Kleinhüningen Basel Sportplatz Schorenmatte FC Locarno Locarno Stadio comunale Lido FC Nordstern Basel Basel Rankhof US Pro Daro Bellinzona Campo Geretta / Stadio Comunale Bellinzona / Zug Zug Herti Allmend Stadion
Final league table
Promotion The two group winners played a two legged tie for the title of 1. Liga champions and for promotion to the 1944–45 Nationalliga A. The games were played on 18 and 25 June 1944. Promotion play-off
Bellinzona won, were 1. Liga champions and were promoted to the top-tier for the 1944–45 Nationalliga A season. International Genève were assigned to the new NLB.
Further in Swiss football 1943–44 Nationalliga 1943–44 Swiss Cup
References
Sources Switzerland 1943–44 at RSSSF