The Idea of an Austria/Switzerland league...

[SwissGCZ]

According to Sonntagsblick, NLA officials are throwing around the idea of forming a combined league. NLA officials will meet next month to discuss several topics. The main discussion will focus around the future NLA structure. Some people are afraid that the new 10-team league structured after the Austrian league, will become a Scotish Celtic-Rangers like affair, with Basel and Grasshoppers being the 2 giants. Others even fear that it will become a one team league, kinda like the Austrian Bundesliga with Austria Wien this season. Some of the ideas being thrown around are these:
- Have a split season a la Japan, with both champions duking it out at the end (unless the same team wins twice)
- Playoffs for the 3rd spot to make the Uefa Cup
- An Austria/Switzerland League

The Austria/Switzerland league is just an idea at the moment, long-term at that. I personally support such an idea, altough there are lots of issues that have to be worked out, especially with Uefa that will probably not allow such a league (others have tried before.)

[RobtheAggie]

An interesting idea. I know that a lot of the lower level baseball leagues play a split season with the two champions playing at the end of the year.

There would be lots of interesting hurdles to overcome with this. How many from each nation, would the second division be combined, third... Would relagation happen with the worst team from each country going down? Five per country or totally random.

There would be some benifits, but I think this would hurt more than help. I think that LNA is doing a good job in holding the clubs accountable for their finances. If you can't make the bill, you will be releagated. This encourages clubs to fix their finances, or have their positive on-field exploits be overshadowed by off-field problems.

In a few years, the financial problems will be less as the price of players comes do to a more reasonable level. I am not saying institute a salary cap like the MLS, but I think that the clubs will not pay the large price tags that are now required for players.

Another idea would be revenue sharing, but I doubt that the larger clubs like Basel or GCZ would agree with a plan like that.

[Quaker]

Well, while UEFA may not look to kindly on the idea, there is some precedent for something like this that could be argued to FIFA. Wasn't the NASL comprised of teams from the USA and Canada?

Austria Wien is having a phenomenal season, but keep in mind that they haven't won the Austrian Bundesliga in a decade. By no way have they been the dominant team. However, Rapid Wien (30 championships) and Austria Wien (21 championships) have won the bulk of the silverware in Austria over the years.

The fundamental question is whether Austria and Switzerland can each support 10 first-division teams. Given that the three-time defending Austrian Champion FC Tirol Innsbruck essentially folded this past offseason, I've got my doubts. This weekend's Admira Moedling - Casino Bregenz match boasted 800 fans, and it seems the league is at a point where they're envious of MLS attendances.

[SwissGCZ]

Originally posted by Quaker
Wasn't the NASL comprised of teams from the USA and Canada?

Yes, but I believe that the NASL wasn't FIFA sanctioned. There are 2 main problems with an Austria/Switzerland league:

- The issue of promotion and relegation (as Rob pointed out)
- Spots in European competitions (how many for each country, or combined spots?)

The problem with the spots in Europe is the issue FC Vaduz is facing right now. Should they be promoted, what would happen if they win the league and take Switzerland's CL spot (or an Uefa Cup spot for that matter)?
1. Vaduz already has the Liechtenstein Cup to qualify for Europe.
2. The Swiss FA wants to send its own clubs.

The NLA will decide on Vaduz's ability to be promoted next month as well. To me, there are 2 possible solutions.
1. The Liechtenstein FA could become part of the Swiss FA like Monte Carlo with France. This is highly unlikely however, since that would mean no more Liechtenstein national team.
2. FC Vaduz is allowed to play in the NLA but should they win it, the CL spot would go to the next Swiss team (that's the solution I support.)

Maybe a combined cup with Austria could be an alternative...

[Quaker]

I'm not positive, but I'd be very surprised if the NASL wasn't FIFA sanctioned. It was formed in 1968 by the combination of the USA (FIFA sanctioned) and the NPSL (not FIFA sanctioned), and many top players in the world were in the league. Wouldn't FIFA have had serious issues with this being a renegade league?

Also, I've been through Liechtenstein, and it amazes me that there's such a thing as a Liechtenstein Cup. I saw the only thing resembling a stadium in Vaduz, and quite possibly that's the only soccer field in the country!

Oh, and thanks SwissGCZ and RobtheAggie for double-handedly raising the status of the Austria & Switzerland forum beyond the rank of Germany sub-forum. Your persistence and keen commentary is appreciated.

[RobtheAggie]

According to WorldStadiums.com there are 7 stadiums in Leitchenstien. One has seating of 8k, that is the national stadium and where FC Vaduz plays. Another has seating for 6k, the other 5 are listed at 1k.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/europe/countries/liechtenstein.shtml

I think that UEFA would have to take a long look at the different considerations that a league like this would raise. It could open the can of worms to the SuperLeague that the Huge Euro clubs are always talking about. If this league were to happen, accross national boarders, it would be difficult for UEFA to say no to the desired superleague.
I think that the poor financial situiation would have to be much worse for action to be taken on this. I just can't see it happening.

But I have been wrong lots of times...

[IASocFan]

Maybe they should include Vaduz in their considerations! :)

[RobtheAggie]

Originally posted by SwissGCZ

2. FC Vaduz is allowed to play in the NLA but should they win it, the CL spot would go to the next Swiss team (that's the solution I support.)



I imagine that this is what will happen. It seems fair to all involved, giving Vaduz a chance to play in the highest leage possible, while still having them represent their country in the UEFA Cup. Plus Swiss teams will represent the Swiss league in the CL/UEFA Cup.

[SwissGCZ]

Originally posted by Quaker
Also, I've been through Liechtenstein, and it amazes me that there's such a thing as a Liechtenstein Cup. I saw the only thing resembling a stadium in Vaduz, and quite possibly that's the only soccer field in the country!
Yeah, Liechtenstein is one small country. I've been there several times since my grandparents live on the Swiss side of the rhine river across from Vaduz. I've also had the pleasure of seeing FC Vaduz play in the Rheinstadion. It was a doubleheader followed by a friendly between Lazio and Bayer Leverkusen (with Donovan.) I must be one of the few people in the world who ever saw Landon Donovan play with Bayer's first team...

Oh, and thanks SwissGCZ and RobtheAggie for double-handedly raising the status of the Austria & Switzerland forum beyond the rank of Germany sub-forum. Your persistence and keen commentary is appreciated.
No problemo. However, it still seems like our board doesn't show up on Bigsoccer Live.....

Nathan

[AFCA]

There is an immense difference between a proposal like this and that damned Euroleague monster.

This is an idea to save football in two countries. The Euroleague is an idea to get the club presidents and their friends bigger cars and younger girlfriends.

If UEFA would allow some nations to form a new league between two countries (Austria/Switzerland, Holland/Belgium) it would have to be in a normal league format though. UEFA will not allow any different forms of European qualifying.

[RobtheAggie]

Originally posted by AFCA
There is an immense difference between a proposal like this and that damned Euroleague monster.

This is an idea to save football in two countries. The Euroleague is an idea to get the club presidents and their friends bigger cars and younger girlfriends.

If UEFA would allow some nations to form a new league between two countries (Austria/Switzerland, Holland/Belgium) it would have to be in a normal league format though. UEFA will not allow any different forms of European qualifying.

I agree that there is a huge difference in theory. But I can see the very rich clubs using a league like the one proposed to sue for acceptance of a superleague. It could get really ugly.

[AFCA]

The rich clubs can sue all they want. The difference is clear to anyone. Besides, the people that frequent the stands at these clubs do not want a euroleague and that settles it.

[RobtheAggie]

"The rich clubs can sue all they want. The difference is clear to anyone. Besides, the people that frequent the stands at these clubs do not want a euroleague and that settles it."

I agree, but it is amazing what money can do. Look at OJ, he is free because he could hire really good (and really abnoxious) lawyers. I am sure that some of the clubs would try to sue. The only way I can see the fans making any difference is if they don't go to the games. That will cut off a huge amount of revenue. And mabye send the message to the owners. I just think the big clubs are a bunch of crybabies, but I digress.

We will just have to see how this who idea plays out.

[AFCA]

Originally posted by RobtheAggie
"The rich clubs can sue all they want. The difference is clear to anyone. Besides, the people that frequent the stands at these clubs do not want a euroleague and that settles it."

I agree, but it is amazing what money can do. Look at OJ, he is free because he could hire really good (and really abnoxious) lawyers. I am sure that some of the clubs would try to sue. The only way I can see the fans making any difference is if they don't go to the games. That will cut off a huge amount of revenue. And mabye send the message to the owners. I just think the big clubs are a bunch of crybabies, but I digress.

We will just have to see how this who idea plays out.

Supporters can start with peaceful action. As long as they're not listened to, the action will get less and less peaceful along the way. Really, the fans are quite powerful.

[RobtheAggie]

Originally posted by AFCA
Supporters can start with peaceful action. As long as they're not listened to, the action will get less and less peaceful along the way. Really, the fans are quite powerful.

I agree.

[SwissGCZ]

I skimmed through Sport1.at today, and found out that a fusion of leagues seems to be much more of a topic with our Austrian friends. While the issue is pretty dead in the Swiss press, I found about 4 articles on Sport1.at

Peter Westenthaler, a T-Mobile Bundesliga official, has already been on a trip to Zurich and Basel to talk to club officials about the idea. He also talked to officials from the NLA and found out that the Swiss are a lot less determined for a fusion than the Austrians. "I am a little surprised", he said. "After all the idea came out of Switzerland. Everybody in Austria is in favor of the idea."

Also, the Austrian league is toying with the idea of abandoning promotion & relegation and modeling itself after the "American" sports model.

[RobtheAggie]

Originally posted by SwissGCZ
IAlso, the Austrian league is toying with the idea of abandoning promotion & relegation and modeling itself after the "American" sports model.

That would be a radical change for European sports. I am not sure that it is the best idea. Id would help to solidify the bigger clubs and allow sponsors to be sure that the club would always be in the highest league. If the financial needs of the league dictate that, I guess that it is better than complete disaster for Austrian football.

I am not sold on the idea of a Swiss-Austrian League. There are too many questions and hurdles to overcome.

[RobtheAggie]

From the recent meetings:

"GCZ President, Peter Widmer relayed and idea of a common champion with Austria during the general assembly meeting of the LN. Contesting a league almost dead with an average of 4000, the Austrian clubs have submitted a project of a final round of 10 (5 teams Austrian and 5 teams Swiss) in the spring. The LN will decide in the next few weeks if it warrants a serious study."

I guess that I have a question then.

If 5 teams from LNA leave for the spring tour, do 4 from LNB replace them and they play a relagtion/promotion tour again? With the other 10 from LNB playing to avoid being releaged? I guess that I see this as just a modification of the present format, but in contrast to the one just announced by the league for next year. I do like the idea of the top 5 from each league to meet in the spring. This allows for some change in the teams, and still allows the smaller teams a chance. From the LNA this year I think it would have been:
GCZ, Basel, Wil, Thun, and Xamax. It could work.

[Quaker]

Well, the Austrian Bundesliga had an article about this on their site (in German):

http://www.bundesliga.at/default.asp?ressort=1&artikelID=8973

It says that the Swiss club presidents agreed unanimously to conduct a feasibility study of the "Alpine League" idea. The president of the Austrian Bundesliga was quite pleased and promised to bring a similar feasibility-study vote before his own club presidents on April 11th.

The article quotes a business lawyer who thinks--contrary to the opinion of the Swiss paper "Blick"--that the Swiss league will end up going along with the idea. Austrian TV (ORF) is on board; it remains to be seen whether Swiss TV will be as well. "Blick" has speculated that TV revenues could double in an "Alpine League." Currently, the Swiss receive 6.1 million euros and the Austrians 7 million euros for TV rights.

Sounds like the idea could be getting traction...

[Mattbro]

This is my wet dream. I am more than in favor of anything that could increase the profile of soccer in these two countries. We could even let in South Tirol for a real Alpine League! I’d be up for some road trips to FC Bozen!

But seriously, this is a good idea and I’ve suggested it to friends a number of times. I’m not sure "everyone" is in favor when you include the fans’ opinion though.

I actually like the idea of combining some of the smaller leagues with a common identity: Holland/Belgium, Scandinavia, the former Yugoslavia. I’m very much in favor.