1940–41 Swiss Cup


The 1940–41 Swiss Cup was the 16th season of Switzerland's football cup competition, organised annually since the 1925–26 season by the Swiss Football Association.

Overview

Preamble

In Switzerland during the second world war period, sport became an integral part of the "spiritual national defense". This was a political and cultural movement that had already become increasingly important during the late 1930s. Politicians, intellectuals and media professionals had increasingly called for measures to strengthen Switzerland's basic cultural values. Since the Nationalliga and Swiss Cup games were also considered to be part of the activities that seemed important for maintaining the morale of the population, the military authorities put considerably fewer obstacles in the way of the top players and leading clubs as they had during the previous World War. However, in 1941, the "Lex Zumbühl", named after the Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) president, formally banned professional football players. In addition to this, the number of foreign players allowed to play was reduced from three to one per team.

Format

This season's cup competition began with a preliminary round, which began on the week-end of 22 September 1940. The competition was to be completed on Easter Monday, 14 April 1941, with the final, which since 1937, was traditionally held in the country's capital, at the former Wankdorf Stadium in Bern. The preliminary round was held for the lower league teams that had not qualified themselves for the competition. The lower league teams that had qualified via their regional football association's own cup competitions, or had achieved their association's requirements, joined the competition in the first round. The clubs from this season's 1. Liga were given a bye for the first round and started in the second round. The clubs from the 1940–41 Nationalliga were given byes for the first three rounds. These teams joined the competition in the fourth round which, with one exception, was played on the first week-end in the New Year.
The matches were played in a knockout format. In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, the match went into extra time. In the event of a draw at the end of extra time, if agreed between the clubs, a replay was foreseen and this was played on the visiting team's pitch. Rules and regulations to this situation were altered and amended continuously by each regional football assocciation, due to the current situation. If the replay ended in a draw after extra time, or if a replay had not been agreed, a toss of a coin would establish the team that qualified for the next round.

Preliminary round

The lower league teams that had not qualified themselves for the competition via their regional football association's own regional cup competitions or had not achieved their assocciation's requirements, competed here in a second chance round. Reserve teams were not admitted to the competition. The draw respected local regionalities. The preliminary round was played on 22 September 1940.

Summary

  • Note to the match CA Genève–Jonction: no replay was agreed between the two teams. CA Genève qualified on toss of a coin.
;Replay

Round 1

In the first round, the lower league teams that had already qualified themselves for the competition through their regional football association's own regional requirements competed here, together with the winners of the preliminary round. All the teams from this years 1. Liga were given a bye and they started in the next round. Whenever possible, the draw respected local regionalities. The first round was played on 29 September.

Summary

US Pro Daro bye
  • Note : Match Romanshorn—Rorschach no replay was agreed between the two teams. Rorschach qualified on toss of a coin.
  • Note : Match Sporting Aarau—Gränichen no replay was agreed between the two teams. Gränichen qualified on toss of a coin.
;Replays

Matches

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  • Both teams played the 1940/41 season in the 2. Liga.
  • Note: No replay was agreed between the two teams. FC Gränichen qualified on toss of a coin.
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Round 2

The winning teams from the first round were joined by the 24 teams from this years 1. Liga to compete in the second round.

Summary

;Replays

Matches

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  • Old Boys played the 1940/41 season in the 2. Liga, Basel in the 1. Liga.
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  • FC Buchs played the 1940/41 season in the 3. Liga, Zürich in the 1. Liga.
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  • Wallisellen played the 1940/41 season in the 3. Liga, Aarau in the 1. Liga.
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Round 3

Matches

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  • Altstetten played the 1940/41 season in the 2. Liga
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  • Allschwil played the 1940/41 season in the 2. Liga
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  • Oerlikon played the 1940/41 season in the 2. Liga
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Round 4

The teams from the this season's Nationalliga, who had received byes for the first three rounds, entered the cup competition in this round. The teams from the Nationalliga were seeded and could not be drawn against each other. Whenever possible, the draw respected local regionalities. With one exception, the games of the fourth round were to be played the first week-end after the New Year, but the bad weather was the cause of many postponements.

Summary

  • All other games were postponed, due to bad weather and were rescheduled.
  • Note: Match Grenchen–Bienne-Boujean abandoned after 22 minutes due to frozen pitch, match was replayed.
;Rescheduled games
;Replays
  • Note: Match Nordstern–Basel abandoned after 30 minutes due to bad weather, match was replayed.
;Second replay

Matches

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  • USI Dopolavoro played the 1940/41 season in the 1. Liga, Servette in the Nationalliga.
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  • Luzern played the 1940/41 season in the Nationalliga, Aarau in the 1. Liga.
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  • Grenchen played the 1940/41 season in the Nationalliga, Bienne-Boujean in the 1. Liga.
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  • Basel played the 1940/41 season in the 1. Liga, Nordstern in the Nationalliga.
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  • FC Schaffhausen played the 1940/41 season in the 2. Liga, Zürich in the 1. Liga
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Round 5

Summary

;Replay
  • Note: The match Concordia–Aarau was played in Aarau.

Matches

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  • Vevey played the 1940/41 season in the 1. Liga.
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  • Biel-Bienne played the 1940/41 season in the Nationalliga.
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  • Concordia played the 1940/41 season in the 1. Liga.
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Quarter-finals

Summary

  • Note: The match Young Boys–Lausanne-Sport was postponed due to bad weather and rescheduled.
;Rescheduled

Matches

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Semi-finals

Matches

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Final

The final was traditionally held in the capital Bern, at the former Wankdorf Stadium. It took place on Easter Monday, 14 April. Because a replay was required, this took place on Ascension Thursday, 22 May 1941.

Summary

;Replay

Telegram

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Grasshopper Club won the cup and this was the club's eighth cup title to this date.

Further in Swiss football