Lega Serie A
Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A
AbbreviationLNPA
PredecessorLega Calcio
Founded2010
HeadquartersMilan
Region served
Italy
ProductsSerie A
Coppa Italia
Supercoppa Italiana
Campionato Primavera 1
Coppa Italia Primavera
Supercoppa Primavera
Membership
20 clubs
President
Paolo Dal Pino
Parent organization
FIGC
Websitelegaseriea.it

The Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A (Italian for National Professionals League Serie A), commonly known as LNPA or Lega Serie A (Serie A League), is the governing body that runs the major professional football competitions in Italy, most prominently the Serie A.

It was founded on 1 July 2010. In the past the television rights of the Serie A clubs were sold separately, and "Serie A" had to financially support Serie B through divided part of the Serie A TV revenues to Serie B clubs. On 30 April 2009, Serie A announced a split from Serie B, when nineteen of the twenty clubs voted in favour of the move. Relegation-threatened Lecce voted against.[1][2][3][4]

The governing body took over most of the competitions formerly held by Lega Calcio, namely Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, and youth competitions Campionato Primavera 1, Coppa Italia Primavera, and Supercoppa Primavera. Serie B is now organised by the Lega Serie B, which was also created in 2010.

Competitions

League

Main article: Serie A

Serie A counts a total number of 20 clubs. In each season (that starts in August, to end in following May) every club faces the others twice (double round-robin system): once in home stadium and once in the opponents one, for 38 total games (19 for each half). Teams gain 3 points for win and a point for draw: no points are gained for lost matches. Ranking is based on total points: the top-club (with the most points) is crowned Italian champion at the end of season. If two or more teams are equal on number of points, they are ranked by following criteria: head-to-head records (results and points), goal difference in these games, goal difference overall, most goals scored, draw.[5]

The three lowest placed teams are relegated in Serie B, as three other sides (two top-teams and play-off winner) are promoted in order to replace them.[5]

Cup

Main article: Coppa Italia

The Lega Serie A organizes the main Italian cup competition, the Coppa Italia, which is open also to all Serie B clubs and some clubs from the Serie C.

Super Cup

Main article: Supercoppa Italiana

The Lega Serie A also organizes the Supercoppa Italiana, a yearly match between the champions of the Serie A and the winners of the Coppa Italia.

Youth competitions

Youth teams of Lega Serie A clubs play in the Campionato Primavera 1, as well as competing in their own cup competitions, such as the Coppa Italia Primavera and the Supercoppa Primavera.

Footballs

Nike is the official match football of the Lega Serie A and is used by all 20 teams in league games. The same football is used in all Coppa Italia games and the Supercoppa Italiana.[6]

List of Lega Serie A chairmen

Official Match Ball

References

  1. ^ "Serie A to form breakaway league". BBC Sport. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  2. ^ Serie A clubs to set up their own league – Washington Post[dead link]
  3. ^ "Serie A set for breakaway". Sky Sports. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  4. ^ Italian league splits in two after meeting ends in stalemate – Guardian
  5. ^ a b "Comunicato ufficiale n. 28/a" (PDF) (in Italian). Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. 18 July 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2010.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Presentato il Nike Seitiro". legaseriea.it (in Italian). Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.

External links

Football in Italy
Serie A
Categories