The tournament was won bySpezia, and officially recognized as an "honorary" title by theItalian 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]
Following theAmerican liberation ofTunisia and laterSicily in 1943, Italy suffered heavybombings by theAllied Powers. The consequent multiple damages onrailways andstreets 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 inWorld 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-calledCampionato 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 theLiberation 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 theGrande 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
^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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
^abAmpelea Isola d'Istria andTriestina 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.
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:
^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.
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.
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:
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.
^abThe matchDAM Valdagno-Sambonifacese wasn't disputed.FIGC decided that both the teams had lost the match and had 1 and 2 points deducted rispectively.