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Author: TheGame
Date: 30-06-2003, 17:09

http://www.uefa.com/footballcentral/News/Kind=2/newsId=73570.html

Structural change in Switzerland
Friday, 06 June 2003
The Swiss Football League will go ahead with plans to change the format of the top two divisions for next season, it said on Friday.

Reduced top flight
"The top division, formerly called the Nationalliga A, will now be called the 'Super League' and will contain ten sides instead of 12 with the teams playing each other four times," said league director Edmond Isoz.

'Challenge League'
"The Nationalliga B will be called the 'Challenge League' and its 16 teams will play in UEFA Cup style two-legged ties, with points awarded for draws, wins and aggregate wins over the two ties."

Courting popularity
The proposals are aimed at making football more appealing to supporters and sponsors. Isoz added that the changes, agreed at a general assembly in Berne, would address the problem that has seen sports such as handball and ice hockey rival football for popularity. One cosmetic change includes new logos for the leagues.

'Long-term marketing plan'
"This is the end of a long-term marketing plan which will look to bring more money into Swiss football because we have been really struggling," he said. "The reduction of teams in the top league will make it more attractive to supporters whereas the 'Challenge League' will seek to promote the game among the younger players."

Crowd control
Another change for next season will see the away teams at league fixtures share responsibility for crowd behaviour with the home side. Visiting sides will be responsible for the behaviour of their fans and could be sanctioned in the event of crowd trouble.

What do you think about it? I think they think purely in commercial terms, and they forget about football. Look at the names.. Why english names? I really dont like that. But i'm eager to see the "UEFA Cup style" of the "Challenge League" (I hate this name)

Author: sr_sofisticacao
Date: 01-07-2003, 10:49

Sorry about the question, but how was your previous format? You said the 1st division had 12 teams, but how? Did they just play twice against each other and finished it with 22 games?
And how about that "Challenge league"? Every team has to play the other, no? So you still have 30 games for each team? But you only get points in the 2nd round, when a team wins or loses the aggregate games? Or is it even more weirder and they play the two games in two consecutive weeks?

Author: TheGame
Date: 01-07-2003, 13:40

The previous format in the NLA (now Super League)

Qualification

12 teams play the qualification with 22 games for each team. The teams ranked 1.-8. advance to the final round, teams ranked 9.-12. (of NLA-Qual.) play the relegation against 1.-4. (of NLB-Qual.)

Final Round (Teams ranked 1.-8. in Qualification)

The Points of the Qualification are halved (!) and then round up. If a team has 43 Points in the Qualification, it's 22 Points in the final round (43/2=21.5 round up 22) Every team starts with this points and plays 14 games. If there are teams with equal teams after this 14 games, the goals dont care, it's about the better place in the qualification.

Example

If Grasshoppers and Basel have both 50 Points and Grasshoppers were 2. and Basel only 4. in the qualification: Then Grasshoppers is the Champion.

But this is old you dont have to care about anymore

In the Challenge League (old NLB) they play the two games in two consecutive weeks, indeed. It should be more exciting and the players are put under pressure all the time with this format. Maybe it's a good format to improve young players.

Example

Schaffhausen 3:1 Bellinzona 3 points to Schaffhausen
Bellinzona 2:0 Schaffhausen 5 points to bellinzona (3 + 2 aggregate)

Schaffhausen 0:0 Bellinzona 1 point to schaffhausen and bellinzona

Bellinzona 0:0 Schaffhausen 1 point to schaffhausen and bellinzona

From what i know they would continue with penalty-shootout now and the winner has the 2 aggregate points

Re: Structural change in Switzerland
Author: TheGame Date: 01-07-2003, 13:42	Little mistake: If there are teams with equal POINTS after this 14 games, the goals dont care, it's about the better place in the qualification.