The 1931–32 1. Liga season was the initial season of the 1. Liga. At the time of its creation, and from here onwards, the 1. Liga became the new second-tier of the Swiss football league system.

Overview Preamble The league system had suffered a major crisis during the previous years. There had been 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. After various discussions, the Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) reached a compromise and modified the formats in the football league system. Last season the top-tier (which had been called Serie A) had 33 Clubs, which had been divided into three regional groups. From here onwards, the top-tier was now named Nationalliga and the number of clubs had been reduced. This season the top-tier had only 18 teams, which were divided into two groups and in the following season would be reduced to 16 clubs, also in two groups. From the 1933–34 Nationalliga season the Nationalliga would be contested in one national division with 16 clubs.

This season a new second division had been created, called 1. Liga, with 18 teams. The former second-tier, which had been 54 teams in 6 regional groups, called 2. Liga or earlier Serie Promotion, now became the third-tier. The season was played from the end of August 1931 to the beginning of May 1932, with a few rescheduled games being played during May. The Swiss championship play-off took place from 29 May to 26 June 1932.

Format The 18 clubs were divided into two regional groups, each with 9 teams. The teams in each group competed a double round-robin to decide their league position. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a draw. Both group winners were promoted to the top-tier Nationalliga, but they contested a final to decide the title of 1. Liga champions. Curiously the 1. Liga Champions were automatically qualified for the final round of the Nationalliga. There were six relegations this season, the last three placed teams in each group were directly relegated to the 2. Liga (third tier).

Group West Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Cantonal Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Stade de la Maladière FC Fribourg Fribourg Stade Universitaire FC Grenchen Grenchen Stadium Brühl FC Lausanne-Sport Lausanne Pontaise FC Monthey Monthey Stade Philippe Pottier FC Olten Olten Sportanlagen Kleinholz Racing Club Lausanne Lausanne Centre sportif de la Tuilière FC Solothurn Solothurn Stadion FC Solothurn FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy, Lausanne Centre sportif de Vidy

League table

Group East Teams, locations ClubBased inCantonStadiumCapacity FC Black Stars Basel Basel Buschwilerhof SC Brühl St. Gallen Paul-Grüninger-Stadion FC Chiasso Chiasso Stadio Comunale Riva IV FC Concordia Basel Basel Stadion Rankhof FC Locarno Locarno Stadio comunale Lido FC Luzern Lucerne Stadion Allmend FC Oerlikon Oerlikon (Zürich) Sportanlage Neudorf FC Winterthur Winterthur Schützenwiese FC Wohlen Wohlen Stadion Niedermatten

League table

Championship final The two group winners had achieved direct promotion to the 1932–33 Nationalliga. They now competed a play off for the title of 1. Liga champions and the qualification to the final round of the Nationalliga. The match was played on 22 May 1932 at the Stadion Neufeld in Bern.

The match was drawn after 90 minutes. Because no extra time had been agreed a replay was required. The replay took place one week later, on 29 May, at the Pontaise in Lausanne.

Lausanne-Sport won and became the 1. Liga championship title and qualified for the top-tier final round. Because Lausanne-Sports won the play-off final, the curiosity of the season had occurred, the winners of the very first 1. Liga season also became Swiss champions. This was the first and only time that a team from the second-tier won the championship title. This was the clubs second championship title to this date.

Further in Swiss football 1931–32 Nationalliga 1931–32 Swiss Cup

References

Sources Switzerland 1931–32 at RSSSF