Country Italy Founded 2010 Number of teams 20 | Confederation UEFA Divisions Serie A Level on pyramid 1 | |
The Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A (Italian for National League of Professionals Serie A), commonly known as Lega Serie A (Serie A League), is the governing body that runs the major professional football competitions in Italy, most prominently the Serie A.
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It was founded on 1 July 2010. In the past the television rights of the Serie A clubs were sold separately, and the league "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. Nineteen of the twenty clubs voted in favour of the move. Relegation-threatened Lecce voted against.
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 Nazionale Primavera, Coppa Italia Primavera, and Supercoppa Primavera. The Serie B, instead, is now organised by the Lega Serie B, also created in 2010.
League
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 number of goals scored, draw.
The 3 lowest placed teams are relegated in Serie B, as 3 other sides (2 top-teams and play-off winner) are promoted in order to replace them.
Cup
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 Lega Pro and the LND.
Super Cup
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 Nazionale Primavera, as well as competing in their own cup competitions, such as the Coppa Italia Primavera and the Supercoppa Primavera.
Footballs
The Nike Seitiro 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.