1921–22 Prima Categoria

21st season of top-tier Italian football May 2025 Prima Categoria 1921–22 Novese campione Italia FIGC 1922.png 1921–22 Novese team Novese1st title 1920–21 1922–23 1D →1922–23 2D The 1921–22 Prima Categoria was the equal twenty-first edition of the Italian Football Championship and the fifteenth since the re-brand to Prima Categoria. In a highly political season of Italian football, to rival the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) organised Prima Categoria, Italy's richest clubs organised the 1921–22 Prima Divisione. The rivalry lasted only this one season. Afterwards, the FIGC recognised the Prima Divisione format as the official championship from 1922 onwards. Hence, 1921–22 was the last season in which the Prima Categoria winners were awarded Italian Football Champions. The winners of each of the 1921–22 Prima Categoria and Prima Divisione are both officially recognised as Italian Champions that season. The 1921–22 Prima Categoria is the only Italian Football Championship won to date by Novese. Formation of Prima Divisione and downfall of Prima Categoria During the summer of 1921, Italy's most powerful clubs asked the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) to reduce the number of clubs in Prima Categoria. Vittorio Pozzo developed a plan to accommodate the request. However, smaller clubs fearing they would disappear if such a reduction was passed, voted against Pozzo's plan and causing the plan to be rejected. That led to the creation of a rival new Italian football federation, the Confederazione Calcistica Italiana (CCI). The CCI organised the 1921–22 Prima Divisione that ran concurrent to the FIGC championship. This rivalry only lasted one season. The following summer the FIGC accepted a reduction in the number league participants. Subsequently the FGCI recognised the 1921–22 CCI championship as an official title, alongside the 1921–22 Prima Categoria. Prima Divisione was accepted as the new format from the summer of 1922 onwards, lasting until 1926. Hence, 1921-22 was the last season in which the Prima Categoria winners were awarded Italian Football Champions. The winners of each of the 1921–22 Prima Categoria and Prima Divisione are both officially recognised as Italian Champions that season. Regulation Tuscany was added to the main championship as the sixth region. The regional FAs remained with 48 clubs. The preliminary regional phase was the bulk of the tournament, with even twelve matchdays and regular regional football champions, while the following national phase was reduced to a spring tournament of two little groups and a final. The main tournament was completely divided in six independent sections, and each region had its own football champions that joined the national championship. Teams Consequently to the controversy with the secessionist clubs, the Regional FAs quite respected the promotion rules. Only two clubs were added to the six rightful winners of the lower secondary regional tournaments. Qualifications Piedmont Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Novese 8 6 2 0 18 1 +17 14 Qualified 2.US Torinese 8 3 3 2 7 9 -2 9 3.Pastore Torino 8 2 4 2 7 10 -3 8Later to playoffs 4.Valenzana 8 2 1 5 8 12 -4 5 5.GC Cappuccini (E) 8 1 2 5 6 14 -8 4 Merged with Pro Vercelli 6.Biellese - - Retired Results table main complete FBR GCC NOV PAS UST VAL GC Cappuccini Vercelli Novese Pastore Torino US Torinese Valenzana 0-2 2-2 1-1 2-0 2-0Forfeit. 4-0 2-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 3-2 3-0 0-6 0-0 2-0 3-1 1-1 2-1 0-1 Liguria Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Sampierdarenese 10 8 2 0 25 7 +18 18 Qualified 2.Speranza Savona 10 5 2 3 17 17 0 12 3.Rivarolese 10 4 2 4 13 13 0 10Later to playoffs 4.Sestrese 10 3 2 5 17 13 +4 8 5.SPES Genova 10 3 1 6 11 20 -9 7Later to Div2 6.GC Genova 10 2 1 7 9 22 -13 5 Results table main complete FBR GCG RIV SAM SES SSA SGE GC Genova Rivarolese Sampierdarenese Sestrese Speranza Savona SPES Genova 0-2 1-4 0-5 1-2 3-0 1-0 2-2 0-0 1-2 2-0 5-1 3-1 1-0 2-0 2-1 0-1 1-2 1-4 5-0 2-4 2-1 4-2 0-0 1-1 3-0 1-1 1-0 0-2 0-2 4-3 Lombardy Group A Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Como 6 4 1 1 20 8 +12 9 Qualified 2.Chiasso 6 2 4 0 11 5 +6 8Later to Div2 3.Saronno 6 2 2 2 7 8 -1 6 4.Varese 6 0 1 5 7 24 -17 1 Results table main complete FBR CHI COM SAR VAR Chiasso Como Saronno Varese 2-0 0-0 4-0 2-2 4-1 7-2 1-1 0-1 4-2 2-2 1-6 0-1 Group B Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Cremonese 6 4 2 0 18 4 +14 10 Qualified 2.Trevigliese 6 3 1 2 9 10 -1 7Later to Div2 3.Atalanta 6 3 0 3 9 14 -5 6 4.Stelvio (E) 6 0 1 5 5 13 -8 1 Disbanded Results table main complete FBR ATA CRE STE TRE Atalanta Cremonese Stelvio Trevigliese 1-2 3-2 3-2 7-0 1-1 5-2 0-2 0-3 1-2 1-0 0-0 2-1 Group C Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Enotria Goliardo 6 4 2 0 12 7 +5 10 Qualified 2.Monza 6 2 1 3 10 11 -1 5Later to Div2 2.Juventus Italia 6 2 1 3 9 12 -3 5 4.Casteggio 6 2 0 4 8 9 -1 4 Results table main complete FBR CAS ENO JUV MON Casteggio Enotria Goliardo Juventus Italia Monza 0-2 1-0 4-1 3-2 1-0 1-1 2-1 3-3 1-0 1-0 1-2 6-3 Group D Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Esperia Como 6 3 1 2 8 4 +4 7 Qualified 2.Pavia 6 2 2 2 6 6 0 6Later to Div2 2.Pro Patria et Libertate 6 2 2 2 5 7 -2 6 4.A.C. Libertas (E) 6 2 1 3 5 7 -2 5 Disbanded Results table main complete FBR ESP LIB PAV PRO Esperia Como A.C. Libertas Pavia Pro Patria et Libertate 1-0 2-0 4-1 2-1 1-1 0-2 1-0 1-2 2-0 0-0 1-0 1-1 Final round Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Esperia Como 6 4 1 1 11 6 +5 9 Qualified 2.Cremonese 6 3 0 3 12 9 +3 6 3.Como 6 2 1 3 7 8 -1 5Later to playoffs 4.Enotria Goliardo (E) 6 2 0 4 6 13 -7 4 Disbanded Results table main complete FBR COM CRE ENO ESP Como Cremonese Enotria Goliardo Esperia Como 2-0 4-1 0-3 2-0 3-0 6-3 2-1 3-1 0-2 0-0 1-0 2-0 Veneto Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Petrarca Padova 10 6 2 2 19 14 +5 14 Qualified 2.Udinese 10 4 4 2 17 8 +11 12 3.Bentegodi Verona 10 3 3 4 24 17 +7 9Later to playoffs 3.Treviso 10 3 3 4 10 19 -9 9 5.Legnaghese 10 2 4 4 11 15 -4 8Later to Div2 6.Schio 10 2 4 4 12 20 -8 8 Results table main complete FBR BEN LEG PET SCH TRE UDI Bentegodi Verona Legnaghese Petrarca Padova Schio Treviso Udinese 1-2 1-1 3-1 8-1 0-3 3-2 1-2 2-2 1-2 0-0 3-2 2-0 5-2 2-0 2-1 0-4 1-1 2-1 2-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-0 2-1 2-1 2-2 2-0 5-1 0-0 2-0 Emilia Group A Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Piacenza 4 2 2 0 10 4 +6 6 Qualified 2.Parma 4 2 1 1 6 4 +2 5 3.US Mantovana 4 0 1 3 3 11 -8 1 Later to Div2 Results table main complete FBR PAR PIA USM Parma Piacenza US Mantovana 2-2 2-0 1-0 5-0 1-2 2-2 Group B Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Virtus Bologna 6 2 3 1 8 4 +4 7 Qualified 2.SPAL 6 1 4 1 4 1 +3 6 3.Carpi 6 2 2 2 5 4 +1 6Later to Div2 4.Reggiana 6 2 1 3 5 13 -8 5 Results table main complete FBR CAR REG SPA VIR Carpi Reggiana SPAL Virtus Bologna 3-1 0-0 2-1 1-0 1-0 0-4 0-0 4-0 0-0 1-0 2-2 0-0 Qualification playoff Played on 8 January 1922. SPAL 1-1 a.e.t. Carpi Tie-breaker Played on 15 January 1922 in Bologna. SPAL 3–1 Carpi Relegation playoff Played on 22 and 29 January 1922. Reggiana – US Mantovana 3–2 2–9 Since the aggregate rule wasn't applied, a tie-breaker was needed. Tie-breaker Played on 5 February 1922 in Ferrara. Reggiana 2–1 US Mantovana Final round Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.SPAL 6 3 3 0 12 5 +7 9 Qualified 2.Virtus Bologna 6 3 2 1 10 5 +5 8 3.Parma 6 1 2 3 8 13 -5 4Later to playoffs 4.Piacenza 6 1 1 4 7 14 -7 3 Results table main complete FBR PAR PIA SPA VIR Parma Piacenza SPAL Virtus Bologna 4-1 2-2 2-2 3-0 2-2 1-2 2-0 4-0 1-0 3-0 2-0 1-1 Tuscany Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Pro Livorno 10 7 1 2 22 8 +14 15 Qualified 2.Lucca 10 5 3 2 25 10 +15 13 3.Libertas Firenze 10 5 2 3 11 16 -5 12Later to playoffs 4.Viareggio 10 5 1 4 18 16 +2 11 5.Prato 10 1 3 6 10 18 -8 5Later to Div2 6.CS Firenze 10 1 2 7 6 24 -18 4 Results table main complete FBR CSF LIB LUC PRA PRO VIA CS Firenze Libertas Firenze Lucca Prato Pro Livorno Viareggio 0-1 1-1 2-1 1-1 1-2 2-0 0-0 1-1 1-0 2-0 8-0 6-0 1-0 4-2 2-0 3-0 0-3 1-1 0-2 1-3 2-0 6-0 2-0 3-1 3-1 3-1 3-1 4-2 2-2 0-1 Semifinals Group A Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Novese 4 3 1 0 12 4 +8 7 Qualified 2.Petrarca Padova 4 1 2 1 5 5 0 4 3.Pro Livorno (E) 4 0 1 3 3 11 -8 1 Merged with AS Livorno Results table main complete FBR NOV PET PRO Novese Petrarca Padova Pro Livorno 1-1 3-0 1-3 1-1 2-5 0-2 Group B Classification PTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation 1.Sampierdarenese 4 2 1 1 4 3 +1 5 Qualified 1.SPAL 4 2 1 1 8 7 +1 5 3.Esperia Como 4 0 2 2 6 8 -2 2 Results table main complete FBR ESP SAM SPA Esperia Como Sampierdarenese SPAL 1-1 2-2 1-0 2-0 4-3 2-0 Qualification playoff Played on April 30, 1922, in Milan. Sampierdarenese 2-1After extra time. SPAL National Finals Played on May 7 and 14, 1922. Sampierdarenese 0-0 Novese 0-0 0-0 Repetition Played on May 21, 1922, in Cremona. Novese 2-1 Sampierdarenese Qualifications to Prima Divisione This FIGC was very poor, and risks of a general bankruptcy was real. The FIGC had a sole resource, its FIFA membership, during the talks that started with the Northern League. The rich League proposed that FIGC’s Prima Categoria became the Second Division of its CCI’s championship. An agreement was found in late June: the Colombo Compromise by the boss of newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The League imposed its idea of a 24 clubs First Division and a 48 clubs Second Division from 1923. The FIGC obtained a special 36 clubs championship for 1922-23, including champions and runner-ups of the disbanded Regional FAs. More, a third club of each regional FA could test its strength against a League bottom club. To respect as possible its clubs, the FIGC decided a test-match between the third and the forth clubs of each region. All other clubs went directly to Division Two. Played on July 2, 1922. Pastore Torino 4-0 Viareggio Como 1-2 Piacenza Bentegodi Verona 2-7 Sestrese Rivarolese 2-0 Valenzana Parma 1-2 Treviso Libertas Firenze 2-1 Enotria Goliardo On mid-July Sundays, the six FIGC’s qualification winners could try to match the Northern League’s six bottom clubs. Home/away matches on July 9 and 16. Brescia X (*) Sestrese 2-0 0-5 Internazionale 4-1 Libertas Firenze 3-0 1-1 Piacenza 1-6 Livorno 1-4The 1st leg, in Piacenza, suffered the referee's absence so the first match became 'friendly'. Livorno won 4-2. On July 16 the match was repeated, again in Piacenza, and Livorno won 4-1. Anyway, Piacenza retired before playing the second leg. 0-2 Rivarolese 2-1 Venezia 0-0 2-1 Spezia 2-3 Pastore Torino 1-1 1-2 Treviso 0-2 Derthona 0-1 0-1 (*) Since the away goal rule wasn't applied, a tie-break was needed: Played on July 23, 1922, in Piacenza. Brescia 2-0 Sestrese Rivarolese and Pastore Turin were the sole two FIGC clubs which joined the regional champions and runners-up in the new First Division. References and sources Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 Footnotes 1 1922a