The 1921–22 Prima Categoria season was won by Novese.

Prima Categoria
1921–22 Novese team
Season1921–22
ChampionsNovese
1st title

During the summer of 1921, a dispute between the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) and the largest teams within the league arose. The teams asked for a reduction of the number of participants in the 1a Divisione.

Vittorio Pozzo developed a plan to accommodate the teams' requests, however, after a vote the plan was not passed; the smaller clubs feared that they would disappear if such a reduction was introduced.

This led to the creation of a new Italian football federation, the Confederazione Calcistica Italiana (CCI), who organised the 1921–22 Prima Divisione that ran concurrent to the FIGC championship.

This separation, however, only lasted one season and the following summer FIGC accepted a reduction in the league participants.

The 1921-22 FIGC winner was U.S. Novese.

Regulation

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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

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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

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Piedmont

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Classification

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P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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 8 Later 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

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Home \ Away GCC NOV PAS UST VAL
GC Cappuccini Vercelli 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–0
Novese 2–0[1] 4–0 2–0 1–0
Pastore Torino 1–0 0–0 0–0 3–2
US Torinese 3–0 0–6 0–0 2–0
Valenzana 3–1 1–1 2–1 0–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Liguria

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Classification

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P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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 10 Later to playoffs
4. Sestrese 10 3 2 5 17 13 +4 8
5. SPES Genova 10 3 1 6 11 20 -9 7 Later to Div2
6. GC Genova 10 2 1 7 9 22 -13 5

Results table

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Home \ Away GCG RIV SAM SES SSA SGE
GC Genova 0–2 1–4 0–5 1–2 3–0
Rivarolese 1–0 2–2 0–0 1–2 2–0
Sampierdarenese 5–1 3–1 1–0 2–0 2–1
Sestrese 0–1 1–2 1–4 5–0 2–4
Speranza Savona 2–1 4–2 0–0 1–1 3–0
SPES Genova 1–1 1–0 0–2 0–2 4–3
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Lombardy

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Group A

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Classification
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion or relegation
1. Como 6 4 1 1 20 8 +12 9 Qualified
2. Chiasso 6 2 4 0 11 5 +6 8 Later to Div2
3. Saronno 6 2 2 2 7 8 -1 6
4. Varese 6 0 1 5 7 24 -17 1
Results table
Home \ Away CHI COM SAR VAR
Chiasso 2–0 0–0 4–0
Como 2–2 4–1 7–2
Saronno 1–1 0–1 4–2
Varese 2–2 1–6 0–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

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Classification
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion or relegation
1. Cremonese 6 4 2 0 18 4 +14 10 Qualified
2. Trevigliese 6 3 1 2 9 10 -1 7 Later 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
Home \ Away ATA CRE STE TRE
Atalanta 1–2 3–2 3–2
Cremonese 7–0 1–1 5–2
Stelvio 0–2 0–3 1–2
Trevigliese 1–0 0–0 2–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group C

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Classification
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion or relegation
1. Enotria Goliardo 6 4 2 0 12 7 +5 10 Qualified
2. Monza 6 2 1 3 10 11 -1 5 Later 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
Home \ Away CAS ENO JUV MON
Casteggio 0–2 1–0 4–1
Enotria Goliardo 3–2 1–0 1–1
Juventus Italia 2–1 3–3 1–0
Monza 1–0 1–2 6–3
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group D

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Classification
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion or relegation
1. Esperia Como 6 3 1 2 8 4 +4 7 Qualified
2. Pavia 6 2 2 2 6 6 0 6 Later 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
Home \ Away ESP LIB PAV PRO
Esperia Como 1–0 2–0 4–1
A.C. Libertas 2–1 1–1 0–2
Pavia 1–0 1–2 2–0
Pro Patria et Libertate 0–0 1–0 1–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final round

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Classification
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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 5 Later to playoffs
4. Enotria Goliardo (E) 6 2 0 4 6 13 -7 4 Later disbanded
Results table
Home \ Away COM CRE ENO ESP
Como 2–0 4–1 0–3
Cremonese 2–0 3–0 6–3
Enotria Goliardo 2–1 3–1 0–2
Esperia Como 0–0 1–0 2–0
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Veneto

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Classification

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P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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 9 Later to playoffs
3. Treviso 10 3 3 4 10 19 -9 9
5. Legnaghese 10 2 4 4 11 15 -4 8 Later to Div2
6. Schio 10 2 4 4 12 20 -8 8

Results table

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Home \ Away BEN LEG PET SCH TRE UDI
Bentegodi Verona 1–2 1–1 3–1 8–1 0–3
Legnaghese 3–2 1–2 2–2 1–2 0–0
Petrarca Padova 3–2 2–0 5–2 2–0 2–1
Schio 0–4 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–1
Treviso 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–1
Udinese 2–2 2–0 5–1 0–0 2–0
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Emilia

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Group A

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Classification
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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
Home \ Away PAR PIA USM
Parma 2–2 2–0
Piacenza 1–0 5–0
US Mantovana 1–2 2–2
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

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Classification
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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 6 Later to Div2
4. Reggiana 6 2 1 3 5 13 -8 5
Results table
Home \ Away CAR REG SPA VIR
Carpi 3–1 0–0 2–1
Reggiana 1–0 1–0 0–4
SPAL 0–0 4–0 0–0
Virtus Bologna 1–0 2–2 0–0
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Qualification playoff
Played on 8 January 1922.
Team 1  Score  Team 2
SPAL 1-1 a.e.t. Carpi
Tie-breaker
Played on 15 January 1922 in Bologna.
Team 1  Score  Team 2
SPAL 3–1 Carpi

Relegation playoff

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Played on 22 and 29 January 1922.
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
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.
Team 1  Score  Team 2
Reggiana 2–1 (a.e.t.) US Mantovana

Final round

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Classification
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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 4 Later to playoffs
4. Piacenza 6 1 1 4 7 14 -7 3
Results table
Home \ Away PAR PIA SPA VIR
Parma 4–1 2–2 2–2
Piacenza 3–0 2–2 1–2
SPAL 2–0[1] 4–0 1–0
Virtus Bologna 3–0 2–0 1–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Tuscany

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Classification

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P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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 12 Later to playoffs
4. Viareggio 10 5 1 4 18 16 +2 11
5. Prato 10 1 3 6 10 18 -8 5 Later to Div2
6. CS Firenze 10 1 2 7 6 24 -18 4

Results table

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Home \ Away CSF LIB LUC PRA PRO VIA
CS Firenze 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–2
Libertas Firenze 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–0
Lucca 8–0 6–0 1–0 4–2 2–0
Prato 3–0 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–3
Pro Livorno 2–0 6–0 2–0 3–1 3–1
Viareggio 3–1 3–1 4–2 2–2 0–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Semifinals

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Group A

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Classification

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P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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

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Home \ Away NOV PET PRO
Novese 1–1 3–0
Petrarca Padova 1–3 1–1
Pro Livorno 2–5 0–2
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

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Classification

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P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion 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

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Home \ Away ESP SAM SPA
Esperia Como 1–1 2–2
Sampierdarenese 1–0 2–0
SPAL 4–3 2–0
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Qualification playoff

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Played on April 30, 1922, in Milan.
Team 1  Score  Team 2
Sampierdarenese 2-1[2] SPAL

National Finals

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Played on May 7 and 14, 1922.
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Sampierdarenese 0-0 Novese 0-0 0-0
Repetition
Played on May 21, 1922, in Cremona.
Team 1  Score  Team 2
Novese 2-1[2] Sampierdarenese

References and sources

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  • Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005

Qualifications to the Northern League

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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.
Team 1  Score  Team 2
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

Barrage

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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.
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Brescia X (*) Sestrese 2-0 0-5
Internazionale 4-1 Libertas Firenze 3-0 1-1
Piacenza 1-6 Livorno 1-4[3] 0-2[1]
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.
Team 1  Score  Team 2
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.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c Forfeit.
  2. ^ a b After extra time.
  3. ^ The 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.