Overview
There had been modifications to the Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) in advance of this season and the format of the Swiss Football League (Nationalliga) was changed accordingly. Until last season, there had been 32 member clubs in the association, divided into two tiers of 16 teams each. Now the number of clubs had now been increased to 36. As of this season there were 12 teams in the top-tier, the Nationalliga A (NLA). There were 24 teams in the second-tier, Nationalliga B (NLB), and these were divided into two groups, a West and an East group. The season was divided into two stages. In the first stage, the qualification phase, each team in each group played a double round-robin to decide their table positions. The top eight teams from the qualification phase of the NLA would advance to the championship group. The last four teams would play against relegation, this against the top six teams in each group of the NLB who were also qualified to play in two promotion/relegation groups. Therefore, in the second stage the divisions were divided again. The top eight teams from the NLA qualification competed a double round-robin in the championship group to decide championship and over the qualification slots to next season's UEFA European competitions. The bottom four teams from the NLA qualification and the top six teams from both of the NLB qualification groups were drawn into two promotion/relegation groups (NLA/NLB). The top two teams in each of these groups would play the following season in the NLA, the others would contest in the NLB. There were also two relegation groups (NLB/1. Liga), each group with six teams. The last team in each NLB relegation group was to be relegated directly to the 1. Liga and the two fifth placed teams from each group played a play-out against relegation to decide the third relegation slot.Nationalliga A
Qualification phase
The qualification stage of the NLA began on 8 August 1987 and was completed on 13 December. The top eight teams in the qualification phase would advance to the championship group and the last four teams would play against relegation.Table
Results
Championship group
The first eight teams from the qualification phase competed in the Championship round. The teams took half of the points (rounded up to complete units) gained in the qualification as bonus with them.Final league table
Results
Nationalliga B
Qualification phase
The qualification of the NLB began on 5 August 1987 and was completed by 13 December. The top six teams in each group were qualified to play in the two promotion/relegation groups. The bottom six teams in each group then played in newly drawn groups against relegation. Three teams were to be relegated.Table group East
Table group West
Promotion/relegation round
The promotion/relegation stage began on 5 March 1988 and was completed by 23 May.Table group A
Results
Table group B
Results
Relegation round NLB/1. Liga
The last six teams in each of the two qualification phase groups competed in two relegation groups against relegation to the 1. Liga 1988–89. There was to be one direct relegation in each group, plus a play-out against relegation between both second last placed teams. This stage began on 19 March 1988 and was completed on 24 May.Table group A
Table group B
Decider against relegation
The decider was played on in . '' FC Renens won 4–2 on aggregate and remain in the division. Vevey Sports are relegated to 2. Liga Interregional.''Further in Swiss football
* 1987–88 Swiss Cup * 1987–88 Swiss 1. LigaReferences
Sources