Lega Nazionale Professionisti

Infobox football league

pixels = 150
country = Italy
confed = UEFA
founded = 1946
divisions = Serie A
Serie B
teams = 42
promotion =
relegation = Lega Pro
levels = 1-2
domest_cup = Coppa Italia
confed_cup = Champions League
UEFA Cup
Intertoto Cup
champions = Inter
season = 2007–08
tv = SKY
Mediaset
La7
website = [http://www.lega-calcio.it/ Lega-Calcio.it]
current = Serie A 2008-09; Serie B 2008-09The Lega Nazionale Professionisti (commonly known as Lega Calcio) is the governing body that runs the professional football leagues in Italy. It was founded in 1946, after the Second World War, in order to coordinate the top divisions, Serie A and Serie B. Promotion and relegation between these divisions is a central feature of the league: at the end of the season the top Serie B clubs exchange places with the lowest placed teams in the Serie A, while the bottom clubs of Serie B switch with the top clubs of the Lega Pro, thus integrating the League into the Italian football league system.

It also organises the main Italian cup competition, the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana.

Competition

League

The 42 member clubs of the Lega Calcio are grouped into two divisions: the Serie A (20 clubs) and Serie B (22 clubs). In any given season a club plays each of the others in the same division twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. This makes for a total of 38 games played each season in Serie A and 42 in Serie B.

Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. At the end of each season, the club with the most points in the Serie A is crowned champion. If points are equal, the head-to-head records determine the winner. If still equal, the goal difference and then goals scored become the deciding factors. As for Serie B, at the top end three clubs win promotion to Serie A, with the bottom three Serie A clubs taking their places. At the lower end, four club are relegated to the Lega Pro Prima Divisione, while four teams from the Lega Pro join the Serie B in their stead.

Promotion and relegation are determined by final league positions, but to sustain interest for more clubs over the length of the season one promotion place from Serie B is decided according to a playoff between four clubs, which takes place at the end of the season. It is therefore possible for a team finishing sixth in the championship to be promoted rather than the clubs finishing immediately above them in the standings. Likewise, one relegation place to the Prima Divisione is decided according to a playoff between two clubs.

Youth teams of Lega Calcio clubs play in the Campionato Nazionale Primavera, as well as competing in their own cup competitions, such as the Coppa Italia Primavera and the Supercoppa Primavera

Cup

The Lega Calcio organises a cup competition, the Coppa Italia, open to all Serie A and Serie B clubs and some clubs from the Lega Pro and the LND. The final is played in Rome at the Stadio Olimpico, with the winner eligible to participate in the UEFA Cup.

upercup

The Lega Calcio also organises the Supercoppa Italiana, between the champions of the Serie A and the winners of the Coppa Italia.

Footballs

The Nike Total 90 Omni is the official match football of the Lega Calcio and is used by all 42 teams from Serie A and Serie B. Nike's current deal started in the 2007-08 season and runs until the end of the 2011-12 season.

ee also

* Italian football league system
* Serie A
* Serie B
* Coppa Italia
* Supercoppa Italiana
* Campionato Nazionale Primavera
* Coppa Italia Primavera
* Supercoppa Primavera

References

External links

* [http://www.lega-calcio.it/ Lega Calcio official website]