Prima Divisione was the name of the first level of the Italian Football Championship from 1921 to 1926. The competition was initially founded in opposition to the FIGC by the richest clubs of Northern Italy, which disagreed the old format of the championship, based on plethoric regional groups. In 1921–22, two concurrent championships took place, before FIGC accepted the new format for 1922–23.
History
The Prima Divisione was divided in two leagues: Lega Nord' and LegaSud'. The Lega Nord championship was the main competition, and it was divided in two groups of twelve teams each. The winners of the two groups qualified for the final ' while the last team was relegated in Seconda Divisione '. The Lega Sud championship was still divided in many regional groups; the best two teams of Campania, Lazio and Apulia and the winners of the Sicily and Marches groups qualified for the semifinals ' of two groups. The winners of the semifinals advanced to the final. The winners of the two leagues qualified for the Finalissima. The team that won the national final won the scudetto, firstly introduced for the 1923-24 championsGenoa. Because of the fascist Carta di Viareggio, in 1926 the Prima Divisione championship was renamed as Divisione Nazionale', merging the best southern clubs into the Northern League. The second level of the Italian football consequently took the name of Prima Divisional, as it happened in England in 1992. In 1929 with the creation of the Serie A and Serie B championships the Prima Divisione became the third level of the Italian Football. In 1935 with the creation of the Serie C championship the Prima Divisione became the fourth level of the Italian football. In 1948 with the creation of the Promozione championship the first division became the fifth level of the Italian championship. In 1952 with the creation of the IV Serie championship the Prima Divisione became the sixth level. In 1959 the Prima Divisione championship was replaced by local Prima Categoria, Seconda Categoria and Terza Categoria championships.
