1944 Campionato Alta Italia

The 1944 Divisione Nazionale,[1][2] better known as Campionato Alta Italia was a football championship organized by the Italian Social Republic and disputed in Northern and Central Italy in 1944 among Serie A and Serie B teams plus others.

The tournament was won by Spezia, and officially recognized as an "honorary" title by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) only in 2002, following a long dispute. Following the decision of FIGC in 2002, Spezia is authorized by the Italian Federation to exhibit a tricolour badge on the official jerseys which is unique, being the only example of a permanent one in Italy. The badge has a different shape and size compared to the ordinary Scudetto.[3]

Background

Following the American liberation of Tunisia and later Sicily in 1943, Italy suffered heavy bombings by the Allied Powers. The consequent multiple damages on railways and streets imposed to the FIGC to plan a special mixed championship for the 1943–44 season, with three different regional groups to reduce the teams movements.[4] However, at the eve of his dismissal, Benito Mussolini suspended all sport activities.[5]

After Italy defeat in World War II, with the country divided by the "Gothic Line", the Italian Football Federation split in two: while the official FIGC remained in the south, under the rule by the Kingdom of Italy, the northern FIGC, ruled by the Italian Social Republic, moved its headquarters to Milan and organized a "campionato di divisione nazionale misto" (mixed national division championship). The so-called Campionato Alta Italia (High Italy Championship) was the only Italian championship organized on a more than regional basis: in Central and Southern Italy many regional championship were held. Originally, the Roman Championship won by Lazio was part of the Alta Italia qualifications, but the Liberation of Rome changed the plan.[1][2]

The Spezia players had to obtain the status of Firefighters from the La Spezia local command in order to be able to play football games traveling to other cities, as freedom of movement was restricted during war time in Italy. Similarly, Torino Calcio players were allowed to move freely and play football carrying FIAT documents. In 1944 the Grande Torino, similarly to Spezia as VVFF, participated with the denomination Torino FIAT.

In the northern FIGC's original plans, the winning team in the tournament would have been recognized as Champion of Italy; however; after the end of the championship, a statement from the northern Federation, following political pressure, announced that Spezia wouldn't be awarded the "Scudetto" title.[6] Only in 2002 the Spezia title was officially recognised by FIGC as a decoration.[3]

Following the decision of FIGC in 2002, Spezia Calcio is authorized by the Italian Federation to exhibit a tricolour badge on the official jerseys which is unique, being the only example of a permanent one in Italy. The badge has a different shape and size compared to the ordinary Scudetto.

Qualifications

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Torino FIAT 18 16 2 0 78 19 +59 34 Qualified
2 Juventus Cisitalia 18 12 3 3 44 25 +19 27
3 Biellese 18 12 0 6 44 32 +12 24
4 Liguria 18 10 3 5 40 25 +15 23
5 Genova 1893 18 9 2 7 34 31 +3 20
6 Novara 18 8 1 9 28 33 −5 17
7 Asti 18 5 3 10 21 36 −15 13
8 Casale 18 4 2 12 20 37 −17 10
8 Alessandria 18 4 2 12 13 46 −33 10
10 Cuneo 18 1 0 17 8 46 −38 2
Source:

Results
Home \ Away ALE AST BIE CSL CUN GEN JUV LIG NOV TOR
Alessandria 1–3 0–4 1–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–0 1–0 0–4
Asti 0–1 2–3 0–1 3–2 1–3 0–2 0–0 4–2 0–4
Biellese 5–1 3–0 4–3 2–0 3–1 1–2 5–4 3–2 1–2
Casale 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–4 2–2 1–4
Cuneo 3–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–3
Genova 1893 3–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 3–2 2–0 1–3 2–1 4–4
Juventus Cisitalia 4–0 2–2 3–2 5–1 6–1 3–1 4–3 2–0 0–0
Liguria 4–1 4–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 2–1 4–3 1–0 1–2
Novara 3–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–2 3–2 1–3
Torino FIAT 7–0 6–1 7–1 5–4 4–0 7–1 5–0 3–2 8–2
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ambrosiana-Inter 14 10 1 3 30 13 +17 21 Qualified
2 Varese 14 6 4 4 26 20 +6 16 Tie-breaker
3 Brescia 14 7 2 5 24 20 +4 16
4 Fanfulla 14 5 5 4 17 17 0 15
5 Milano 14 5 3 6 18 16 +2 13
5 Pro Patria 14 4 5 5 12 14 −2 13
7 Cremonese 14 3 4 7 13 24 −11 10
8 Atalanta 14 3 2 9 12 28 −16 8
Source:

Results
Home \ Away AMB ATA BRE CRE FAN MIL PPA VAR
Ambrosiana-Inter 2–1 8–2 3–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–0
Atalanta 1–2 3–2 2–0 0–0 0–2 1–0 1–4
Brescia 0–1 1–0 0–0 4–1 1–0 1–1 4–1
Cremonese 1–2 2–1 0–4 1–1 0–0 3–0 1–1
Fanfulla 2–1 3–1 0–1 1–0 3–1 1–0 1–1
Milano 1–3 6–0 3–2 0–2 1–0 1–1 0–0
Pro Patria 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 3–1
Varese 1–0 3–0 0–1 7–2 3–3 2–1 2–0
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Tie-breaker
Team 1  Score  Team 2
Brescia Italy 0-1(aet) Italy Varese

Varese advanced to the semifinals

Group A
Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Venezia 12 10 0 2 43 12 +31 20 Qualified
2 Treviso 12 8 1 3 36 11 +25 16[lower-alpha 1]
2 Padova 12 8 0 4 27 18 +9 16
4 Bassano 12 6 0 6 22 31 −9 12
5 Mestre 12 1 5 6 10 21 −11 7
6 Legnago 12 2 2 8 19 35 −16 6
6 Rovigo 12 2 2 8 9 38 −29 6
Source:
Notes:
  1. 1 point deducted?
Results
Home \ Away BAS LGN MST PAD ROV TRV VEN
Bassano 4–1 1–0 0–3 5–2 0–7 0–1
Legnago 1–4 1–1 3–1 6–0 1–4 0–3
Mestre 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–0 1–1 1–2
Padova 7–2 7–1 2–1 1–0 1–3 2–0
Rovigo 0–1 3–2 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–3
Treviso 2–1 2–0 5–0 3–0 7–0 1–3
Venezia 7–2 4–1 2–3 5–0 11–0 2–1
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Vicenza 10 8 1 1 32 7 +25 17 Qualified
2 Verona 10 5 3 2 18 15 +3 13
3 Lanerossi Schio 10 5 2 3 16 16 0 12
4 DAM Valdagno 10 5 1 4 15 15 0 10[lower-alpha 1]
5 Monti Padova 10 1 1 8 12 31 −19 3
6 Sambonifacese 10 1 2 7 16 25 −9 2[lower-alpha 2]
7 Audace San Michele 2 0 0 2 1 7 −6 0 Withdrew[lower-alpha 3]
7 Pellizzari Arzignano 2 0 0 2 1 8 −7 0
Source:
Notes:
  1. 1 point deducted.[7]
  2. 2 points deducted.[7]
  3. Audace San Michele and Pellizzari Arzignano withdrew during the championship. All their matches were invalidated.
Results
Home \ Away ASM DAM LAN MON PEL SMB HEL VIC
Audace San Michele
DAM Valdagno 2–0 1–0 –[lower-alpha 1] 0–0 1–2
Lanerossi Schio 3–1 1–0 2–0[lower-alpha 2] 4–0 1–1
Monti Padova 2–3 1–1 4–1 1–2 1–5
Pellizzari Arzignano
Sambonifacese 1–3 2–3 10–1 0–0 0–2[lower-alpha 2]
Hellas Verona 2-0[lower-alpha 3] 2–0[lower-alpha 2] 5–0 4–2 6-0[lower-alpha 3] 2–2 3–1
Vicenza 5-1[lower-alpha 3] 5–0 4–1 3–0 2-1[lower-alpha 3] 4–0 2–0[lower-alpha 2]
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. The match DAM Valdagno-Sambonifacese wasn't disputed. FIGC decided that both the teams had lost the match and had 1 and 2 points deducted respectively.
  2. Forfeit
  3. Audace San Michele and Pellizzari Arzignano withdrew during the championship. All their matches were voided.

Final round

Treviso and Vicenza withdrew before the start of the round

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Venezia Italian Social Republic 7-3 Italian Social Republic Verona 5-1 2-2

Both Venezia and Verona were admitted to the semifinals.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ampelea Isola d'Istria 14 10 2 2 35 17 +18 22 Qualified
2 Triestina 14 8 3 3 28 11 +17 19
3 Pro Gorizia 14 6 4 4 21 21 0 16
4 Monfalcone 14 6 2 6 19 22 −3 14
5 San Giusto 14 4 5 5 14 14 0 13
5 Udinese 14 5 3 6 17 25 −8 13
7 Cormonese 14 4 0 10 16 28 −12 8
8 Ponziana 14 3 1 10 13 25 −12 7
Source:

Results
Home \ Away AMP COR MFA PON PGO SGI TRI UDI
Ampelea Isola d'Istria 4–2 3–0 5–2 4–1 1–1 2–0 6–2
Cormonese 1–4 2–1 1–0 0–1 3–1 0–4 0–2
Monfalcone 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 4–1 2–1 1–0
Ponziana 0–1 0–4 1–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–0
Pro Gorizia 3–1 2–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 0–3 3–1
San Giusto 0–1 2–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 0–0 4–0
Triestina 3–0 3–1 4–0 3–2 2–1 0–0 3–0
Udinese 1–1 3–1 4–3 1–0 1–1 0–0 2–1
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group A
Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Bologna 6 5 0 1 22 8 +14 10 Qualified
2 Cesena 6 4 0 2 12 5 +7 8
3 Panigale 6 3 0 3 9 12 −3 6
4 San Pietro in Casale 6 0 0 6 3 21 −18 −2[lower-alpha 1]
Source:
Notes:
  1. 2 points deducted
Results
Home \ Away BOL CES PAN SPC
Bologna 2–0 4–0 2–1
Cesena 5–0 2–0 2–0
Panigale 1–3 3–2 3–1
San Pietro in Casale 1–11 0–1 0–2
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B
Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Faenza 8 4 3 1 18 7 +11 11 Qualified
1 Forlimpopoli 8 5 1 2 17 11 +6 11
3 Ravenna 8 4 1 3 17 7 +10 9
4 Imola 8 4 0 4 14 17 −3 8
5 Forlì 8 0 1 7 3 27 −24 1
Source:
Results
Home \ Away FAE FOR FRL IML RAV
Faenza 1–1 4–1 5–0 1–1
Forlì 1–2 1–5 0–1 0–3
Forlimpopoli 2–2 3–0 3–2 2–1
Imola 0–3 7–0 1–0 2–1
Ravenna 1–0 5–0 0–1 5–1
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group C
Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Modena 8 6 2 0 17 6 +11 14 Qualified[lower-alpha 1]
2 Carpi 8 4 3 1 19 6 +13 11
2 Reggiana 8 5 1 2 13 9 +4 11
4 Mantova 8 1 1 6 11 28 −17 3
5 Centese 8 0 1 7 11 22 −11 1
Source:
Notes:
  1. Carpi qualified on goal difference.
Results
Home \ Away CRP CEN MAN MOD REA
Carpi 2–1 6–1 0–0 1–1
Centese 1–5 2–2 1–2 0–1
Mantova 0–4 3–1 1–3 1–2
Modena 1–1 4–3 5–0 1–0
Reggiana 1–0 3–2 5–3 0–1
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group D
Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 VV.FF. Spezia 8 5 3 0 14 6 +8 13 Qualified
2 Corradini Suzzara 8 5 1 2 15 8 +7 11
3 Fidentina 8 2 4 2 20 20 0 8
4 Parma 8 2 3 3 8 12 −4 7
5 Orlandi Busseto 8 0 1 7 7 18 −11 0[lower-alpha 1]
Source:
Notes:
  1. 1 point deducted
Results
Home \ Away COR FID ORL PAR VFS
Corradini Suzzara 6–0 2–0 2–1 0–2
Fidentina 2–3 2–1 7–1 1–1
Orlandi Busseto 1–2 3–3 0–1 1–2
Parma 0–0 1–1 4–1 0–0
VV.FF. Spezia 2–0 4–4 2–0 1–0
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Standings

The qualified team, Lucchese, was excluded from the championship following the allied invasion of Tuscany.

Standings

Lazio was excluded from the championship following the liberation of Rome. The organisation of the regional tournament, from then on known as Campionato romano di guerra 1943-1944, was taken over by the Kingdom of Italy.

Semifinals

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Torino FIAT 6 3 2 1 21 12 +9 8 Qualified
2 Juventus Cisitalia 6 3 1 2 15 9 +6 7
3 Ambrosiana-Inter 6 2 2 2 12 13 −1 6
4 Varese 6 1 1 4 6 20 −14 3
Source:

Results
Home \ Away AMB JUV TOR VAR
Ambrosiana-Inter 2–1 3–3 3–0
Juventus Cisitalia 1–0 3–1 6–1
Torino FIAT 6–2 3–3 2–1
Varese 2–2 2–1 0–6
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B (Veneto and Venezia Giulia)

Verona withdrew before the start of the semifinals.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Venezia 4 2 2 0 3 0 +3 6 Qualified
2 Ampelea Isola d'Istria 3 1 0 2 2 4 −2 2[lower-alpha 1]
2 Triestina 3 0 2 1 1 2 −1 2[lower-alpha 1]
Source:
Notes:
  1. Ampelea Isola d'Istria and Triestina renounced to play the last match: Venezia was already qualified and there were public security problems due to the war and the rivalry between the two teams' fans.

Results
Home \ Away AMP TRI VEN
Ampelea Isola d'Istria –[lower-alpha 1] 0–1
Triestina 1–2 0–0
Venezia 2–0[lower-alpha 2] 0–0
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. Ampelea Isola d'Istria and Triestina renounced to play the last match: Venezia was already qualified and there were public security problems due to the war and the rivalry between the two teams' fans.
  2. Decided by the FIGC.
Group A
Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Bologna 6 4 1 1 11 5 +6 9 Qualified
2 Cesena 6 4 0 2 13 6 +7 8
3 Forlimpopoli 6 2 2 2 10 11 −1 6
4 Faenza 6 0 1 5 5 17 −12 1
Source:
Results
Home \ Away BOL CES FAE FRL
Bologna 2–0 3–1 3–1
Cesena 2–0 5–1 2–0
Faenza 0–2 0–2 0–2
Forlimpopoli 1–1 3–2 3–3
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Group B
Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 VV.FF. Spezia 6 5 0 1 14 4 +10 10 Qualified
2 Corradini Suzzara 6 2 1 3 7 10 −3 4[lower-alpha 1]
2 Carpi 6 2 1 3 5 7 −2 4[lower-alpha 1]
4 Modena 6 2 0 4 3 8 −5 3[lower-alpha 1]
Source:
Notes:
  1. 1 point deducted
Results
Home \ Away CRP COR MOD VFS
Carpi 1–1 0–1 2–1
Corradini Suzzara 2–0[lower-alpha 1] 2–0 2–5
Modena 0–2 2–0[lower-alpha 1] 0–2
VV.FF. Spezia 2–0 2–0 2–0[lower-alpha 1]
Source: Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004, Panini Edizioni, Modena, September 2005 (in Italian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. Decided by the FIGC.

Round 2
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Bologna Italian Social Republic 0-4 Italian Social Republic VV.FF. Spezia 0-2[8] 0-2[9]

VV.FF. Spezia didn't play the semifinals, due to the retirement of Lucchese (the semifinalist of Tuscany), and they were directly admitted to the final.

Final round

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Result
1 VV.FF. Spezia 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 3 Champions
2 Torino FIAT 2 1 0 1 6 4 +2 2
3 Venezia 2 0 1 1 3 6 −3 1
Source:

Results
Team 1  Score  Team 2
Venezia Italy 1-1 Italy VV.FF. Spezia
VV.FF. Spezia Italy 2-1 Italy Torino FIAT
Torino FIAT Italy 5-2 Italy Venezia

References and sources
  • Fabrizio Calzia and Paolo Rabajoli, Lo Scudetto per sempre – I Vigili del fuoco della Spezia Campioni d’Italia 1944, Sagep e Il Secolo XIX

Footnotes
  1. "L'attività calcistica per la stagione 1943-44". La Stampa. 2 December 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  2. "I campionati di calcio si inizieranno in dicembre" (PDF). Il Resto del Carlino. 3 December 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  3. "1944-2002: uno scudetto per sempre". 30 July 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  4. La Stampa Turin newspaper, 2 July 1943 (it.)
  5. La Stampa Turin newspaper, 24 July 1943 (it.)
  6. "Il Torino resta campione". La Stampa. 11 August 1944. p. 2. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  7. The match DAM Valdagno-Sambonifacese wasn't disputed. FIGC decided that both the teams had lost the match and had 1 and 2 points deducted rispectively.
  8. Decided by the FIGC.
  9. Forfeit.
  • - All results on RSSSF Website.
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