An unprecedented influenza pandemic arrived in Italy's major ports like Genoa, Livorno, and Naples in the last part of 1918, simultaneously with the FIGC National Assembly. In the Assembly, the original project of a National League by 1920-1921 found itself in jeopardy through the remarks of the Northern clubs, citing the abysmal defeat of Lucca in the National Final of the previous year. Roman sides, this time weaker than usual, couldn't push their agenda, and the FIGC deliberated to put the reform on hold for a while.
WW1 was already in its final phases: Germany and Austria-Hungary, despite the Russian surrender in 1917, were strangled by the British naval blockade, and the surge of fresh American troops in France began to grind the already meager German reserves. In November 1918, a few weeks after the start of the Italian Football Championship, Victor Emmanuel III signed the declaration of war against Austria-Hungary, with his cousin, Duke of Aosta, leading the entire Regio Esercito against the lightly defended border crossings of Torre river, San Vito di Cadore, Monte Croce Carnico, Primolano, Pasubio, Avio, Riva del Garda, Ponte Caffaro, and Stelvio pass. Moreover, Regia Marina landed forces, without severe opposition, in Pola, Parenzo, and Zara, cheered by the local population, while in Cattaro, the Austrian Navy tried to stop the assault, facing its annihilation. Austria-Hungary capitulated three weeks afterward, with Italian spearheads already at Innsbruck, Lienz, Villach, Ljubljana, and Fiume, with the domino effect of the German surrender in December 1919: WW1 ended.
As the Spanish flu and the participation in WW1 impacted Italy, Football was impaired, with many teams incapable of fielding eleven players leading to plenty of forfeits and economic difficulties. Nevertheless, the league formula remained unchanged.
The Championship formula for 1918-1919
NORTHERN LEAGUE
- 1st tier Eccellenza Nord (16 teams from Northern Italy) winner goes on to the National Final. Two direct relegations, the 14th must face the 3rd from Promozione in a play-in game.
- 2nd tier Promozione Nord (16 teams from Northern Italy) first two classified clubs promoted to Eccellenza while the 3rd placed must face the 14th from Eccellenza in a play-in game. The last three teams face relegation to the First Categories.
- 3rd tier Regional First Category (8-10 clubs per round) split into Lombard, Piedmontese-Ligurian, Northeastern.
- 4th tier Regional Second Category
Previous season results:
- Brescia and Bologna relegated to Promozione 1918-1919
- Atalanta and Pavia promoted to Eccellenza 1918-1919
- Internazionale Milano to the play-in vs Novara, Novara wins and participates to 1918-1919 Eccellenza
SOUTHERN LEAGUE
- 1s tier Eccellenza Sud (16 teams from Peninsular Italy) winner goes on to the National Final. Two direct relegations, the 14th must face the winner of the Regional First Categories playoff in a play-in game.
- 2nd tier Regional First Category (8-10 clubs per round) split into Central, Roman, Neapolitan, and All-Southern.
Previous season results:
- Pro Italia Taranto and Ideale Bari relegated to First Categories 1918-1919
- Amsicora Cagliari and Unione Sportiva Anconetana promoted to Eccellenza 1918-1919
- Palermo to the play-in vs Sporting Club Lecce, Palermo wins and participates to 1918-1919 Eccellenza
Eccellenza Nord championship:
The Eccellenza Nord, by now with only Italian players discounted a few Swiss players, started with Andrea Doria looking to confirm its previous year's title. Genoa, still upset about Doria's success, pushed to re-establish the city's predominance, carrying out a series of transfers from second-tier teams like Modena, Casale, and Lucca, seizing the top talent from each. Milan, taking advantage of the plenty of neighborhood teams, picked the youngest and most promising players from Nazionale Lombardia, Calcio Milano, and Enotria Goliardo, aiming for a longer time window for its return to dominance. Torino and Juventus instead competed on a smaller pool of talent in the city, with the latter arriving to recruit in the deep South and with some exiles of Italian ethnicity coming from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The league immediately saw a surge of Turin's city rivalry, with Juventus leading for the first part of the season, being temporarily overtaken by Milan's "hungry kids" and then passed again by Torino, pushing further.
Genoa started the season far better but ended delusional due to the Spanish Flu that affected a significant part of the squad, leading to an unending streak of draws, with the only solace of finishing above Andrea Doria and the victories on both derbies.
Minor sides that in the past punched above their weight, like Modena and Casale, found themselves at odds with the conscription of many of their players or the transfers to big clubs. At the end of the season, Modena met relegation, and Casale participated in the play-in game.
Torino won the Eccellenza Nord on three points over Juventus, qualifying for the National Final.
Eccellenza Sud championship:
Eccellenza Sud is characterized by the strong performance of Roman, which quelled the Northern Clubs' smug remarks by crushing all the competition very early in the round. Internazionale Napoli finally returned to a solid level of football thanks to a solid recruiting of
oriundi from South America, possessing Italian passports and counted as national players.
Anconetana, a rookie club, performed really well thanks to the adjoining of many Dalmatian and Istrian players from the other side of the Adriatic, fleeing the quagmire in Austria-Hungary. Firenze FBC, who had a remarkable season, co-opted many local Tuscan players and dried up Libertas Firenze's recruiting pool outbidding the other club in signing talent.
Eccellenza Sud finished with Roman winning the league leading to its qualification to the National Final. Two historical clubs, Libertas Firenze and Juventus Roma, faced relegation.
Final:
In Bologna's neutral ground, Roman was still close to win the National Championship, by going ahead with the score of Colonna. Torino recovered in the second half, with the goals of Boglietti and Mosso I, winning its second title.
Roll of Honor: