The 1942–43 1. Liga season was the 11th 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 The Swiss football league system, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in Switzerland, with seven teams from Liechtenstein, and one each from exclaves of Germany and Italy, also competing. The system has a hierarchi ...

Overview

Preamble

In Switzerland during the

second world war World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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. However, in 1941, the "Lex Zumbühl", named after the Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) president, formally banned professional football players. In addition to this, the number of foreign players allowed to play had been reduced from three to one per team.

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 1. Liga championship and promotion to the top-tier. The last placed team in each group were directly relegated to the 2. Liga (third tier) and the two second last teams played a play-out against the third and final relegation slot.

Group West

Teams, locations

Final league table

Group East

Teams, locations

Final league table

Decider for eleventh place

The decider was played on 18 July. Concordia won and continued in the play-outs. Blue Stars were relegated directly to 2. Liga Interregional.

Promotion, relegation

The two group winners played a two legged tie for the title of 1. Liga champions and for promotion to the

1943–44 Nationalliga The following is the summary of the Swiss National League in the 1943–44 football season. This was the 47th season of top-tier Swiss football. Overview Preamble In Switzerland during the second world war, sport became an integral part of the ...

. The games were played on 6 and 20 June 1943.

Promotion play-off

La Chaux-de-Fonds La Chaux-de-Fonds (; archaic ) is a Swiss city in the canton of Neuchâtel. It is located in the Jura Mountains at an altitude of 992 metres, a few kilometres south of the French border. After Geneva, Lausanne, Biel/Bienne, and Fribourg, ...

won the championship title and were promoted to the top-tier.

Bellinzona Bellinzona ( , ; ; is a municipality, a List of towns in Switzerland, historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its Three Castles of Bellinzona, three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sa ...

remained in the division for the next season.

Relegation play-out

The two second last placed teams from each group played a two legged tie to decide the third and last relegation slot. The games were played on 25 July and 1 August 1943. The teams were equal, two draws each and a replay was required. This was played on 8 August at the

Stadion Neufeld Stadion Neufeld is a multi-use stadium in Bern, Switzerland. It is the home ground of FC Bern and the junior team of BSC Young Boys. The capacity of the stadium is 14,000 spectators, including 3000 seats. BSC Young Boys used the stadium from 2001 ...

Bern Bern (), or Berne (), ; ; ; . is the ''de facto'' Capital city, capital of Switzerland, referred to as the "federal city".; ; ; . According to the Swiss constitution, the Swiss Confederation intentionally has no "capital", but Bern has gov ...

. Concordia won and remained in the division for the next season.

Monthey Monthey (; ) is the capital of the district of Monthey in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. History The castle in the town center was built in 950 on a hill, the first houses of Monthey surrounded it. Monthey is first mentioned in 1215 ...

were relegated to 2. Liga.

Further in Swiss football

1942–43 Nationalliga The following is the summary of the Swiss National League in the 1942–43 football season. This was the 46th season of top-tier football in Switzerland. Overview Preamble In Switzerland during the second world war, sport became an integral par ...

* 1942–43 Swiss Cup

References

Sources

Switzerland 1942–43 at RSSSF
{{DEFAULTSORT:1942–43 Swiss 1. Liga 1942–43 in Swiss football Swiss 1. Liga (football) seasons

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...