# 1997–98 Swiss 1. Liga

The 1997–98 Swiss 1. Liga was the 66th season of this league since its creation in 1931. At this time, the 1. Liga was the third tier of the Swiss football league system and it was the highest level of amateur football.

## Format

There were 56 clubs in the 1. Liga, divided into four regional groups of 14 teams. Within each group, the teams would play a double round-robin to decide their league position. The four group winners and the four runners-up then contested a play-off for the two promotion slots. The two last placed teams in each group were directly relegated to the 2. Liga Interregional (fourth tier). The four third last placed teams would compete a play-out against the ninth relegation place.

## Group 1
### Teams

| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Bex | Vaud | Relais | 2,000 |
| CS Chênois | Geneva | Stade des Trois-Chêne | 8,000 |
| FC Echallens | Vaud | Sportplatz 3 Sapins | 2,000 |
| FC Gland | Vaud | Centre sportif En Bord | 2,000 |
| Grand-Lancy FC | Geneva | Stade de Marignac | 1,500 |
| FC Stade Lausanne | Vaud | Centre sportif de Vidy | 1,000 |
| FC Le Mont | Vaud | Centre Sportif du Châtaignier | 2,500 |
| FC Martigny-Sports | Valais | Stade d'Octodure | 2,500 |
| FC Meyrin | Geneva | Stade des Arbères | 9,000 |
| FC Monthey | Valais | Stade Philippe Pottier | 1,800 |
| FC Naters | Valais | Sportanlage Stapfen | 3,000 |
| FC Stade Nyonnais | Vaud | Stade de Colovray | 7,200 |
| FC Renens | Waadt | Zone sportive du Censuy | 2,300 |
| Vevey Sports | Vaud | Stade de Copet | 4,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Stade Nyonnais | 26 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 78 | 16 | +62 | 66 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | FC Meyrin | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 68 | 30 | +38 | 58 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | CS Chênois | 26 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 68 | 31 | +37 | 56 | |
| 4 | FC Renens | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 54 | 42 | +12 | 44 | |
| 5 | FC Naters | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 39 | 34 | +5 | 39 | |
| 6 | FC Monthey | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 51 | 42 | +9 | 38 | |
| 7 | FC Bex | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 46 | 50 | −4 | 38 | |
| 8 | FC Martigny-Sports | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 35 | |
| 9 | Vevey Sports | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 39 | 41 | −2 | 32 | |
| 10 | FC Echallens | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 32 | 38 | −6 | 32 | |
| 11 | FC Stade Lausanne | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 41 | 55 | −14 | 28 | |
| 12 | Grand-Lancy FC | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 30 | 45 | −15 | 24 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Gland | 26 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 79 | −55 | 11 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Le Mont | 26 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 22 | 91 | −69 | 10 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

## Group 2
### Teams

| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Alle | Jura | Centre Sportif Régional | 2,000 |
| FC Biel-Bienne | Bern | Stadion Gurzelen | 15,000 |
| FC Bulle | Fribourg | Stade de Bouleyres | 7,000 |
| SC Bümpliz 78 | Bern | Bodenweid | 4,000 |
| FC Colombier | Neuchâtel | Stade des Chézards | 2,500 |
| FC Fribourg | Fribourg | Stade Universitaire | 9,000 |
| FC Grenchen | Solothurn | Stadium Brühl | 15,100 |
| FC Köniz | Bern | Sportplatz Liebefeld-Hessgut | 2,600 |
| FC La Chaux-de-Fonds | Neuchâtel | Centre Sportif de la Charrière | 12,700 |
| SV Lyss | Bern | Sportzentrum Grien | 2,000 |
| FC Marly | Fribourg | Stade de la Gérine | 2,000 |
| FC Münsingen | Bern | Sportanlage Sandreutenen | 1,400 |
| FC Serrières | Neuchâtel | Pierre-à-Bot | 1,700 |
| FC Wangen bei Olten | Solothurn | Sportplatz Chrüzmatt | 3,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Serrières | 26 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 51 | 23 | +28 | 56 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | FC Münsingen | 26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 54 | 20 | +34 | 54 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | FC Grenchen | 26 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 21 | +22 | 52 | |
| 4 | FC Wangen bei Olten | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 41 | |
| 5 | FC Biel-Bienne | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 48 | 43 | +5 | 38 | |
| 6 | FC Fribourg | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 53 | 39 | +14 | 37 | |
| 7 | SC Bümpliz 78] | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 48 | 47 | +1 | 35 | |
| 8 | FC La Chaux-de-Fonds | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 37 | 40 | −3 | 31 | |
| 9 | FC Colombier | 26 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 29 | −7 | 29 | |
| 10 | FC Bulle | 26 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 28 | |
| 11 | FC Köniz | 26 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 33 | 48 | −15 | 27 | |
| 12 | SV Lyss | 26 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 35 | 44 | −9 | 22 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Marly | 26 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 34 | 69 | −35 | 21 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Alle | 26 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 23 | 52 | −29 | 20 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

## Group 3
### Teams

| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Ascona | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Ascona | 1,400 |
| AC Bellinzona | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Bellinzona | 5,000 |
| GC Biaschesi | Ticino | Campo Sportivo "Al Vallone" | 2,850 |
| SC Buochs | Nidwalden | Stadion Seefeld | 5,000 |
| FC Chiasso | Ticino | Stadio Comunale Riva IV | 4,000 |
| FC Concordia Basel | Basel-City | Stadion Rankhof | 7,000 |
| SC Dornach | Solothurn | Gigersloch | 2,500 |
| FC Hochdorf | Lucerne | Arena | 3,150 |
| FC Muri | Aargau | Stadion Brühl | 2,350 |
| SV Muttenz | Basel-Country | Sportplatz Margelacker | 3,200 |
| FC Riehen | Basel-City | Sportplatz Grendelmatte | 2,500 |
| FC Schötz | Lucerne | Sportplatz Wissenhusen | 1,750 |
| FC Sursee | Lucerne | Stadion Schlottermilch | 3,500 |
| FC Wohlen | Aargau | Stadion Niedermatten | 3,734 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Chiasso | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 21 | +17 | 51 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | SV Muttenz | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 49 | 23 | +26 | 49 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 3 | FC Schötz | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 46 | |
| 4 | GC Biaschesi | 26 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 41 | 26 | +15 | 44 | |
| 5 | SC Buochs | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 42 | 30 | +12 | 43 | |
| 6 | FC Concordia Basel | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 40 | 41 | −1 | 41 | |
| 7 | FC Ascona | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 37 | |
| 8 | AC Bellinzona | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 44 | 31 | +13 | 36 | |
| 9 | FC Riehen | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 38 | 44 | −6 | 32 | |
| 10 | FC Sursee | 26 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 41 | 52 | −11 | 31 | |
| 11 | FC Muri | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 54 | −32 | 26 | |
| 12 | SC Dornach | 26 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 35 | 51 | −16 | 25 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Wohlen | 26 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 28 | 45 | −17 | 19 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Hochdorf | 26 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 54 | −32 | 17 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

## Group 4
### Teams

| Club | Canton | Stadium | Capacity |
| FC Altstetten | Zürich | Buchlern | 1,000 |
| FC Bülach | Zürich | Stadion Erachfeld | 3,500 |
| FC Frauenfeld | Thurgau | Kleine Allmend | 6,370 |
| FC Freienbach | Schwyz | Chrummen | 4,500 |
| FC Gossau | St. Gallen | Sportanlage Buechenwald | 3,500 |
| FC Kreuzlingen | Thurgau | Sportplatz Hafenareal | 1,200 |
| FC Rapperswil-Jona | St. Gallen | Stadion Grünfeld | 2,500 |
| FC Red Star Zürich | Zürich | Allmend Brunau | 2,000 |
| FC Rorschach | Schwyz | Sportplatz Kellen | 1,000 |
| FC Schwamendingen | Zürich | Sportanlage Heerenschürli | 1,522 |
| FC Tuggen | Schwyz | Linthstrasse | 2,800 |
| FC Vaduz | Liechtenstein | Rheinpark Stadion | 7,584 |
| SC YF Juventus | Zürich | Utogrund | 2,850 |
| Zug 94 | Zug | Herti Allmend Stadion | 6,000 |

### Final league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | FC Red Star Zürich | 26 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 48 | 29 | +19 | 55 | Play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 2 | FC Gossau | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 26 | +30 | 50 | Decider for play-off |
| 3 | Zug 94 | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 62 | 33 | +29 | 50 | Decider winners, play-off to Nationalliga B |
| 4 | FC Tuggen | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 46 | 27 | +19 | 50 | |
| 5 | FC Frauenfeld | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 40 | 27 | +13 | 49 | |
| 6 | FC Rapperswil-Jona | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 43 | 29 | +14 | 37 | |
| 7 | SC Young Fellows Juventus | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 31 | 28 | +3 | 37 | |
| 8 | FC Altstetten | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 33 | 35 | −2 | 37 | |
| 9 | FC Vaduz | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 35 | |
| 10 | FC Kreuzlingen | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 38 | 41 | −3 | 35 | |
| 11 | FC Rorschach | 26 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 34 | 39 | −5 | 31 | |
| 12 | FC Freienbach | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 39 | 64 | −25 | 22 | Play-out against relegation |
| 13 | FC Bülach | 26 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 28 | 57 | −29 | 18 | Relegation to 2. Liga |
| 14 | FC Schwamendingen | 26 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 20 | 83 | −63 | 5 | Relegation to 2. Liga |

### Decider

Because the teams from FC Gossau and Zug 94 ended the season level on points they had to play a league positions decider. The match was played on a neutral ground and it took place on 19 May 1998 in Allmend Brunau (Zürich).
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Zug 94 | 3–0 | FC Gossau |
Zug 94 win the decider and advance to play-offs.

## Promotion play-offs
### Qualification round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Muttenz | 1–1 | Red Star |
| Red Star | 1–5 | Muttenz |
Muttenz win 6–2 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Münsingen | 1–0 | Stade Nyonnais |
| Stade Nyonnais | 2–0 | Münsingen |
Stade Nyonnais win 2–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Zug 94 | 0–0 | Chiasso |
| Chiasso | 2–1 | Zug 94 |
Chiasso win 2–1 on aggregate and continue to the finals.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| FC Meyrin | 2–2 | Serrières |
| Serrières | 2–2 5–3 a.e.t. | FC Meyrin |
Aggregate 4–4. Serrières win in overtime and continue to the finals.

### Final round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Stade Nyonnais | 3–2 | Muttenz |
| Muttenz | 0–1 | Stade Nyonnais |
Stade Nyonnais win 4–2 on aggregate and are promoted to Nationalliga B.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Serrières | 0–1 | Chiasso |
| Chiasso | 3–0 | Serrières |
Chiasso win 4–0 on aggregate and are promoted to Nationalliga B.

## Relegation play-out
### First round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Grand-Lancy | 2–1 | SV Lyss |
SV Lyss continue to the final.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Freienbach | 4–1 | Dornach |
Dornach continue to the final.

### Final round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| SV Lyss | 4–0 | Dornach |
| Dornach | 1–3 | SV Lyss |
SV Lyss win 7–1 on aggregate. Dornach are relegated to 2. Liga.