The following is the summary of the Swiss National League in the 1960âÂÂ61 football season, both Nationalliga A and Nationalliga B. This was the 64th season of top-tier and the 63rd season of second-tier football in Switzerland.
The Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) had 28 member clubs at this time which were divided into two divisions of 14 teams each. The teams played a double round-robin to decide their table positions. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a draw. The top tier (NLA) was contested by the top 12 teams from the previous 1959âÂÂ60 season and the two newly promoted teams Young Fellows Zürich and FC Fribourg. The champions would qualify for the 1962âÂÂ63 European Cup and the last two teams in the league table at the end of the season were to be relegated.
The second-tier (NLB) was contested by the two teams that had been relegated from the NLA at the end of the last season, Lugano and Bellinzona, the ten teams that had been in third to twelfth position last season and the two newly promoted teams Martigny-Sports and Nordstern. The top two teams at the end of the season would be promoted to the 1961âÂÂ62 NLA and the two last placed teams would be relegated to the 1961âÂÂ62 Swiss 1. Liga.
The Swiss champions received a slot in the 1961âÂÂ62 European Cup and the Swiss Cup winners received a slot in the 1961âÂÂ62 Cup Winners' Cup. The following summer would see the start of the International Football Cup. The initial rounds would see a group stage and this would take place as a pre-season event. The knock-out stage would then be played during the season. The ASF/SFV were allocated four starting places. These would be given to the four best placed teams in this season. However, if a club was not interested in contesting the slot would be passed down to the next willing club.
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Schaffhausen and Bellinzona ended the season level on points, therefore a play-off for promotion was required. The decider match for second place was played on 18 June 1961 at the Stadion Neufeld in Bern.
* Note: The match was abandoned due to pitch invasion in the 68th Minute.
The replay was played on 23 July at Stadion Allmend in Lucerne.
Schaffhausen won and were promoted to 1961âÂÂ62 Nationalliga A. Bellinzona remained in the division.