The Italian Football Confederation (CCI, ''Confederazione Calcistica Italiana'') was a

secession Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. Some of the most famous and significant secessions have been: the former Soviet republics le ...

ist organization which opposed the

Italian Football Federation The Italian Football Federation ( it, Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio; FIGC), known colloquially as ''Federcalcio'', is the governing body of football in Italy. It is based in Rome and the technical department is in Coverciano, Florence. It ...

during the 1921–22 season.Luigi Saverio Bertazzoni, “Annuario Italiano del Giuoco del Calcio”, in “I volumi dello sport”, F.I.G.C., 1929 (it.)

The Confederation

Just after

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, football became the national sport in Italy, with growing economic revenues. However, the

Italian Football Championship Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

was still based on an amatorial and pletoric structure of 88 clubs divided in regional groups that the democratic organization of the

FIGC The Italian Football Federation ( it, Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio; FIGC), known colloquially as ''Federcalcio'', is the governing body of football in Italy. It is based in Rome and the technical department is in Coverciano, Florence. It ...

could not change. Richest and greatest clubs of

Northern Italy Northern Italy ( it, Italia settentrionale, it, Nord Italia, label=none, it, Alta Italia, label=none or just it, Nord, label=none) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. It consists of eight administrative regions ...

asked famous coach

Vittorio Pozzo Vittorio Pozzo (; 2 March 1886 – 21 December 1968) was an Italian football player, manager and journalist. The creator of the ''Metodo'' tactical formation, Pozzo is regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, and is the only manag ...

for a reform plan in summer 1921, but minor clubs rejected it. Consequently, the 24 strongest clubs resigned from the FIGC and founded the Northern League, the first association football league of the country. The richness of the new league attracted some minor clubs and all Southern clubs, which were grouped into a ''Second Division'' and a ''Southern League'' respectively. Together, they formed the CCI, headquarters in

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

. As the lexical difference, copied from the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, showed, the Confederation opposed the Federation with a lighter structure, where the real power was vested in the leagues, which organized their own championships. Italy had consequently two football champions in 1922,

Pro Vercelli Football Club Pro Vercelli 1892, commonly referred to as Pro Vercelli, is an Italian football club based in Vercelli, Piedmont. The club is mostly renowned as one of the most successful teams in the early football era of Italy, with seven natio ...

for the CCI and US Novese for the FIGC. Despite its economic success, the CCI suffered the lack of international recognition by the

FIFA FIFA (; stands for ''Fédération Internationale de Football Association'' ( French), meaning International Association Football Federation ) is the international governing body of association football, beach football and futsal. It was found ...

, while the FIGC remained with a poor championship with bankruptcy risks. The director of ''

La Gazzetta dello Sport ''La Gazzetta dello Sport'' (; "The Sports Gazette") is an Italian daily newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. Founded in 1896, it is the most widely read daily newspaper of any kind in Italy (in 2018). History and profile ''La ...

'', Mr Colombo, was asked for a gentleman agreement which became very similar to a surrender of the FIGC. The championship was expanded to 36 clubs for the 1922–23 season solely, while the 24 clubs format would be accepted from 1923–24 onward. The Northern League victory then allowed the CCI disbandment.

References

{{Authority control Football governing bodies in Italy Sports organizations established in 1921 Sports organizations disestablished in 1921