# 1996–97 Divizia C

The 1996–97 Divizia C was the 41st season of Liga III, the third tier of the Romanian football league system.

## Team changes
### Renamed teams

Unirea 95 Focșani was renamed as Vrancea Focșani.
Minerul Vatra Dornei was renamed as Dorna Vatra Dornei.
FC Arad was renamed as Telecom Arad.
Șoimii Compa Sibiu was renamed as Șoimii Sibiu.

### Other changes

Viromet Victoria took the place of FC Sfântu Gheorghe.
Constructorul Reghin took the place of Mureșul Toplița.
Astra Ploiești merged with Danubiana București and takes its place in Divizia B.
Victoria 96 Florești took the place of Astra Ploiești.
FC Caracal and Unirea Alexandria merged, the first one being absorbed by the second one. The new entity was named as FC Alexandria.
Mobila Șimleu Silvaniei took the place of Laminorul Zalău.

## League tables
### Seria I

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Nitramonia Făgăraș (C, P) | 34 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 58 | 31 | +27 | 67 | Promotion to Divizia B |
| 2 | ICIM Brașov | 34 | 19 | 4 | 11 | 52 | 30 | +22 | 61 | |
| 3 | Rafinăria Dărmănești | 34 | 18 | 3 | 13 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 57 | |
| 4 | Petrolul Ianca | 34 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 49 | 43 | +6 | 52 | |
| 5 | Chimica Târnaveni | 34 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 55 | 43 | +12 | 51 | |
| 6 | Letea Bacău | 34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 39 | 34 | +5 | 49 | |
| 7 | Romradiatoare Brașov | 34 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 48 | |
| 8 | Viromet Victoria | 34 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 46 | 42 | +4 | 47 | |
| 9 | Minerul 92 Comănești | 34 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 48 | 43 | +5 | 46 | |
| 10 | Petrolul Berca | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 47 | 46 | +1 | 45 | |
| 11 | Vrancart Adjud | 34 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 41 | 44 | −3 | 45 | |
| 12 | Constructorul Reghin | 34 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 35 | 60 | −25 | 45 | |
| 13 | Vrancea Focșani | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 45 | 43 | +2 | 44 | |
| 14 | CFR Pașcani | 34 | 13 | 5 | 16 | 37 | 48 | −11 | 44 | |
| 15 | Dorna Vatra Dornei | 34 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 40 | 68 | −28 | 44 | |
| 16 | Harghita Odorheiu Secuiesc | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 33 | 42 | −9 | 43 | |
| 17 | Metalul Toflea (R) | 34 | 13 | 3 | 18 | 47 | 54 | −7 | 42 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 18 | Steaua Mecanica Huși (R) | 34 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 37 | 58 | −21 | 41 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 19 | Melana Săvinești (R) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew |
| 20 | Zimbrul Siret (R) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew |
* 1 2 Melana Săvinești and Zimbrul Siret withdrew after the first part of the season and all their results were canceled.

### Seria II

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Midia Năvodari (C, P) | 36 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 64 | 29 | +35 | 76 | Promotion to Divizia B |
| 2 | Cimentul Fieni | 36 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 64 | 24 | +40 | 72 | |
| 3 | Electromagnetica București | 36 | 20 | 4 | 12 | 62 | 43 | +19 | 64 | |
| 4 | Faur București | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 59 | 41 | +18 | 57 | |
| 5 | Metalul Filipeștii de Pădure | 36 | 16 | 7 | 13 | 51 | 35 | +16 | 55 | |
| 6 | Petrolistul Boldești | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 54 | 46 | +8 | 54 | |
| 7 | Cimentul Medgidia | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 46 | 52 | −6 | 54 | |
| 8 | Portul Constanța | 36 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 57 | 45 | +12 | 53 | |
| 9 | Inter Dunărea Giurgiu | 36 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 78 | 63 | +15 | 52 | |
| 10 | Callatis Mangalia | 36 | 16 | 3 | 17 | 53 | 54 | −1 | 51 | |
| 11 | Victoria 96 Florești | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 51 | |
| 12 | Navol Oltenița | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 52 | 61 | −9 | 51 | |
| 13 | Flacăra Moreni | 36 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 49 | 54 | −5 | 50 | |
| 14 | Gloria Iris Cornești | 36 | 15 | 4 | 17 | 52 | 59 | −7 | 49 | |
| 15 | Șantierul Naval Conpref Constanța | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 45 | |
| 16 | Acumulatorul București | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 40 | 53 | −13 | 44 | |
| 17 | Atletic Bucureşti (R) | 36 | 13 | 2 | 21 | 43 | 68 | −25 | 41 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 18 | Aversa București (R) | 36 | 10 | 5 | 21 | 37 | 61 | −24 | 35 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 19 | Electrica Voința Constanța (R) | 36 | 5 | 3 | 28 | 18 | 79 | −61 | 18 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 20 | Chimia București (D) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew |
* ↑ Chimia București withdrew after the first part of the season and all its results were canceled.

### Seria III

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Vega Deva (C, P) | 38 | 25 | 3 | 10 | 82 | 51 | +31 | 78 | Promotion to Divizia B |
| 2 | Drobeta-Turnu Severin | 38 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 74 | 45 | +29 | 75 | |
| 3 | Olt 90 Scornicești | 38 | 18 | 7 | 13 | 62 | 41 | +21 | 61 | |
| 4 | Minerul Berbești | 38 | 19 | 2 | 17 | 72 | 61 | +11 | 59 | |
| 5 | Minerul Uricani | 38 | 18 | 5 | 15 | 72 | 65 | +7 | 59 | |
| 6 | Minerul Certej | 38 | 19 | 2 | 17 | 68 | 62 | +6 | 59 | |
| 7 | Petrolul Stoina | 38 | 18 | 3 | 17 | 77 | 69 | +8 | 57 | |
| 8 | Minerul Mătăsari | 38 | 18 | 3 | 17 | 61 | 53 | +8 | 57 | |
| 9 | Parângul Lonea | 38 | 18 | 2 | 18 | 70 | 70 | 0 | 56 | |
| 10 | Unirea Pitești | 38 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 54 | 40 | +14 | 54 | |
| 11 | Petrolul Țicleni | 38 | 17 | 3 | 18 | 56 | 67 | −11 | 54 | |
| 12 | Minerul Lupeni | 38 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 51 | 64 | −13 | 52 | |
| 13 | Petrolul Videle | 38 | 16 | 3 | 19 | 53 | 63 | −10 | 51 | |
| 14 | Mine-Ral Rovinari | 38 | 16 | 3 | 19 | 52 | 63 | −11 | 51 | |
| 15 | Termo Drobeta-Turnu Severin | 38 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 52 | 58 | −6 | 50 | |
| 16 | FC Vâlcea | 38 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 45 | 61 | −16 | 50 | |
| 17 | Alexandria (R) | 38 | 15 | 4 | 19 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 49 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 18 | Minerul Anina (R) | 38 | 15 | 4 | 19 | 57 | 63 | −6 | 49 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 19 | Paroșeni Vulcan (R) | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 43 | 63 | −20 | 35 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 20 | Metalul Bocșa (R) | 38 | 9 | 4 | 25 | 37 | 75 | −38 | 31 | Relegation to Divizia D |
* ↑ Paroșeni Vulcan deducted 7 points.

### Seria IV

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | UM Timișoara (C, P) | 36 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 83 | 28 | +55 | 87 | Promotion to Divizia B |
| 2 | Industria Sârmei Câmpia Turzii | 36 | 23 | 7 | 6 | 58 | 22 | +36 | 76 | |
| 3 | Minerul Ștei | 36 | 19 | 2 | 15 | 61 | 56 | +5 | 59 | |
| 4 | Șoimii Sibiu | 36 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 57 | 34 | +23 | 58 | |
| 5 | Astral Deta | 36 | 18 | 2 | 16 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 56 | |
| 6 | Armătura Zalău | 36 | 17 | 5 | 14 | 55 | 50 | +5 | 56 | |
| 7 | Bihor Oradea | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 54 | |
| 8 | Phoenix Baia Mare | 36 | 16 | 3 | 17 | 82 | 61 | +21 | 51 | |
| 9 | Electrica Timișoara | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 47 | 52 | −5 | 49 | |
| 10 | Minerul Baia Borșa | 36 | 15 | 2 | 19 | 56 | 71 | −15 | 47 | |
| 11 | Sticla Arieșul Turda | 36 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 59 | 69 | −10 | 46 | |
| 12 | Metalurgistul Cugir | 36 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 46 | 60 | −14 | 46 | |
| 13 | Mobila Șimleu Silvaniei | 36 | 15 | 1 | 20 | 49 | 79 | −30 | 46 | |
| 14 | Viitorul Oradea | 36 | 14 | 3 | 19 | 53 | 60 | −7 | 45 | |
| 15 | Telecom Arad | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 39 | 54 | −15 | 45 | |
| 16 | West Petrom Pecica | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 61 | 82 | −21 | 45 | |
| 17 | CPL Arad (R) | 36 | 13 | 5 | 18 | 33 | 58 | −25 | 44 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 18 | Motorul Arad (R) | 36 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 49 | 65 | −16 | 38 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 19 | Mecanica Mârșa (R) | 36 | 11 | 4 | 21 | 43 | 60 | −17 | 37 | Relegation to Divizia D |
| 20 | Minerul Baia Sprie (D) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew |
* ↑ Minerul Baia Sprie withdrew from championship and all its results were canceled.