# 1940–41 Swiss 1. Liga

The 1940–41 1. Liga season was the 9th 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.

## Overview

In Switzerland during the second world war 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 was reduced from three to one per team.

## Format

There were 24 clubs competing in the 1. Liga this season. They were divided into three regional groups, each with eight 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. Last season had seen no promotions to the top tier, due to World War II. This season, however, two promotions were planned. The three group winners contested a play-off round to decide the 1. Liga championship and the two promotion slots to the Nationalliga. However, this season would see no relegations because the Nationalliga was to be expanded from 12 to 14 clubs next season. There was to be three promotions from the 2. Liga (third tier) this season, therefore there would be one more club in this division in the next season.

## Group West
### Teams, locations

| Club | Based in | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Cantonal Neuchâtel | Neuchâtel | Neuchâtel | Stade de la Maladière | 25,500 |
| Dopolavoro Genève | Genève | Geneva | | |
| FC Étoile-Sporting | La Chaux-de-Fonds | Neuchâtel | Les Foulets / Terrain des Eplatures | 1,000 / 500 |
| FC Montreux-Sports | Montreux | Vaud | Stade de Chailly | 1,000 |
| FC Forward Morges | Morges | Vaud | Parc des Sports | 600 |
| FC Monthey | Monthey | Valais | Stade Philippe Pottier | 1,800 |
| Urania Genève Sport | Genève | Geneva | Stade de Frontenex | 4,000 |
| Vevey Sports | Vevey | Vaud | Stade de Copet | 4,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Cantonal Neuchâtel | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 13 | +37 | 25 | To promotion play-off |
| 2 | FC Étoile-Sporting | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 47 | 29 | +18 | 21 | |
| 3 | Urania Genève Sport | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 21 | +10 | 20 | |
| 4 | Vevey Sports | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 36 | 28 | +8 | 15 | |
| 5 | FC Monthey | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 37 | −18 | 10 | |
| 6 | Dopolavoro Genève | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 24 | −5 | 9 | |
| 7 | FC Forward Morges | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 31 | −17 | 8 | |
| 8 | FC Montreux-Sports | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 47 | −33 | 4 | |

## Group Central
### Teams, locations

| Club | Based in | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Aarau | Aarau | Aargau | Stadion Brügglifeld | 9,240 |
| FC Basel | Basel | Basel-Stadt | Landhof | 4,000 |
| FC Bern | Bern | Bern | Stadion Neufeld | 14,000 |
| US Bienne-Boujean | Biel/Bienne | Bern | | |
| FC Birsfelden | Birsfelden | Basel-Landschaft | Sternenfeld | 9,400 |
| FC Concordia Basel | Basel | Basel-Stadt | Stadion Rankhof | 7,000 |
| FC Fribourg | Fribourg | Fribourg | Stade Universitaire | 9,000 |
| FC Solothurn | Solothurn | Solothurn | Stadion FC Solothurn | 6,750 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Basel | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 19 | +25 | 24 | To promotion play-off |
| 2 | Aarau | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 37 | 10 | +27 | 23 | |
| 3 | FC Bern | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 34 | 24 | +10 | 19 | |
| 4 | Solothurn | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 35 | 30 | +5 | 12 | |
| 5 | Birsfelden | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 27 | −10 | 11 | |
| 6 | Concordia Basel | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 23 | 40 | −17 | 9 | |
| 7 | Fribourg | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 35 | −15 | 7 | |
| 8 | US Bienne-Boujean | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 43 | −25 | 7 | |

## Group East
### Teams, locations

| Club | Based in | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| AC Bellinzona | Bellinzona | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Bellinzona | 5,000 |
| FC Blue Stars Zürich | Zürich | Zürich | Hardhof | 1,000 |
| SC Brühl | St. Gallen | St. Gallen | Paul-Grüninger-Stadion | 4,200 |
| FC Chiasso | Chiasso | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Riva IV | 4,000 |
| SC Juventus Zürich | Zürich | Zürich | Utogrund | 2,850 |
| FC Locarno | Locarno | Ticino | Stadio comunale Lido | 5,000 |
| SC Zug | Zug | Zug | Herti Allmend Stadion | 6,000 |
| FC Zürich | Zürich | Zürich | Letzigrund | 25,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Zürich | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 65 | 10 | +55 | 24 | To promotion play-off |
| 2 | AC Bellinzona | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 18 | +19 | 21 | |
| 3 | FC Locarno | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 30 | +1 | 18 | |
| 4 | SC Brühl | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 34 | 19 | +15 | 16 | |
| 5 | FC Blue Stars Zürich | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 31 | 19 | +12 | 16 | |
| 6 | FC Chiasso | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 37 | −21 | 11 | |
| 7 | SC Zug | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 17 | 48 | −31 | 6 | |
| 8 | SC Juventus Zürich | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 15 | 65 | −50 | 0 | |

## Promotion

The three group winners played a single round-robin for the title of 1. Liga champions and for the two promotion slots to the 1941–42 Nationalliga. The games were played on 25 May, 8 and 15 June 1941

### Promotion play-off

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | FCZ | CN | BAS |
| 1 | Zürich | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 3 | — | 6–1 | — |
| 2 | Cantonal Neuchâtel | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 2 | — | — | 2–1 |
| 3 | Basel | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 1 | 1–1 | — | — |
Zürich won the 1. Liga championship title and together with runners-up Cantonal Neuchâtel were promoted to the top-tier. Basel remained in the division for the next season.

## Further in Swiss football

* 1941–42 Nationalliga
* 1941–42 Swiss Cup
* 1940–41 FC Basel season