1930–31 Swiss Serie A

Overview

Preamble

At this time, there was a major crisis taking place in Swiss football. There were disagreements between smaller and larger clubs. The smaller clubs wanted direct promotion without going through play-offs, while the larger clubs were insisting on separating the championship from the lower leagues, in a system similar to that which had already been implemented in Italy in 1922. Eventually, after various discussions, the Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) reached a compromis that remains without any sporting logic. A new First League was born and the old Promotion and Serie B become Second and Third league for this one season.

Format

Due to the differences, the past season had seen no promotions or relegations. The top-tier had the same 27 club members. As in the previous season, these were divided into three regional groups. However, the new championship regulations divided the season into two stages. During the first stage, within the each group the teams played a single round-robin to decide their league table positions. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a draw.

For the second stage, each top-tier group had two additional teams from the lower division. The three regional champions from the past season Monthey, Luzern and Locarno, that had been rejected an automatic promotion, now received a mid-season promotion. In addition, the first classified teams in each of the six sub-regional second-tier groups, competed a play-off to decide three more mid-season promotions. Racing Club Lausanne, Black Stars Basel and Wohlen were these three play-off winners. In these larger groups, the teams played another single round-robin.

At the end of the championship, two rankings were drawn up. For the teams competing for the championship title, all games from both first and second stages were considered. For the relegation, only the games of the second stage were considered. A total of six teams qualified for the championship play-offs, these were the first two placed teams in each group. The top six teams in each group qualified for the new 1931–32 Nationalliga and all other teams were to contest in the newly created 1931–32 1. Liga.

Serie A (First League)

The first stage of league season began with the first matchday on 24 August 1930 and was completed on 21 December with one rescheduled match which was played on 28 December. The second stage began on 4 January 1931, but in each group one fixture was played earlier. The second stage was completed by 31 May with a few rescheduled fixtures being played later. The final stage began on 10 May and completed by 28 June 1931.

Group West

Teams, locations

League table

Results

Group Central

Teams, locations

League table

Decider for second place

FC Nordstern Basel and FC Basel ended the season level on points in joint second/third position. Because the second place was the qualifying slot for the final round a decider was required. The decider match for second place was played on 17 May 1931 at the Stadion Schützenmatte in Basel. Basel won and advanced to the championship play-offs. Nordstern were qualified for 1931–32 Nationalliga.

Results

Group East

Teams, locations

League table

Results

Championship round

The final stage, championship round, began on 10 May and completed by 28 June 1931. The format here was that each team here played once against each other team from the other regional groups.

Final league table

Results

Grasshopper Club won the play-offs and were awarded the championship title. This was the club's seventh championship title to this date.

Further in Swiss football

• 1931–32 Swiss Cup

References

Sources

• Switzerland 1930–31 at RSSSF

seasons in Switzerland

References

1. (red) Association neuchâteloise de football. (2024). "FC Étoile-Sporting'". Association neuchâteloise de football.
2. (red) Association cantonale vaudoise de football. (2024). "Racing Club Lausanne". Association cantonale vaudoise de football.
3. Reichmuth, Daniel. (2024). "Servette Rangliste 1930/31". super-servette-ch.
4. Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv". (2024). "FCB Rangliste 1930/31". Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv".
5. Beck, Stephan. (2023). "Schweizer Meisterschaft 1930/31 FCA Rangliste". arowa.ch.
6. Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv". (17 May 1931). "FC Basel - FC Nordstern Basel 2:1 (1:0)". Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv".
7. (red) Fussballverband Region Zürich. (2024). "FC Blue Stars Zürich". Fussballverband Region Zürich.
8. (red) dbFCZ. (2023). "FCZ Saison 1930/31". dbFCZ.
9. Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv". (7 June 1931). "FC Basel - Grasshopper Club 1:4 (1:2)". Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv".
10. Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv". (28 June 1931). "FC Blue Stars Zürich - FC Basel 2:3 (1:2)". Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv".