Definition
The 1939–40 Serie B was the eleventh edition of Italy's second‑tier football league, Serie B, contested during the 1939–1940 season.
Overview
The competition took place in the early months of World War II, a period that saw Italian sport operating under the constraints of the emerging conflict. The league followed a double‑round‑robin format, with each club playing every other club twice, once at home and once away. Teams earned two points for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss, which was the standard scoring system in Italian football at the time. The final league table determined promotion to Serie A and relegation to Serie C. While the exact number of participating clubs and the final standings are part of historical records, the overall structure of the season adhered to the established format of Italian second‑division football of the era.
Etymology/Origin
Serie is an Italian word meaning “series” or “division,” and it is used to denote the hierarchical levels of the national football league system. The letter B designates the second level, directly below Serie A, which is the top tier. Thus, “Serie B” literally translates to “Series B,” indicating its position as the second division in Italian football.
Characteristics
- League format: Double round‑robin, with each club playing all others twice.
- Points system: Two points awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss.
- Promotion: The top‑ranked clubs earned promotion to the 1940–41 Serie A season.
- Relegation: The lowest‑ranked clubs were relegated to the 1940–41 Serie C.
- Season timing: The schedule generally spanned the traditional Italian football calendar, beginning in late summer or early autumn of 1939 and concluding in spring 1940.
- Impact of war: The onset of World War II began to affect travel, player availability, and club finances, although the league completed the season in its usual format.
Related Topics
- Serie A 1939–40: The top‑flight Italian football league for the same season.
- Serie C 1939–40: The third tier of Italian football during the same period.
- Italian football league system: The hierarchical structure of football competitions in Italy, including promotion and relegation mechanisms.
- 1939–40 in Italian football: A broader overview of football activities in Italy during the 1939–40 season, encompassing national team matches, cup competitions, and regional leagues.
Note: Specific details such as the exact number of participating clubs, the final league table, and the champion of the 1939–40 Serie B season are not provided here due to the need for verification from reliable historical sources. Accurate information on those points is not confirmed.