The Italian season started normally, but ended badly shaked by the Totonero scandal. Tremors were felt for the next years, but the peak was reached at the end of this season, especially because it affected the national team’s preparation for and perhaps performance at the European Championship finals. The scandal made the other big news insignificant – the coming reopening of Italian football for foreign players, which happened in the summer of 1980. As for the scandal, the unthinkable happened: Italian football was accused of wide-spread corruption for a long time. Along with that went accusation of nepotism – the clubs were too powerfull and there was no will to investigate, let alone punish culprits. At first the common opinion was that the scandal would be the usual Italian soap-opera: much noise and nothing else. Thus, the real surprise came when the Italians not only investigated, but found and punished the guilty. It was astonishing – the Italians punished even untouchables: Lazio was expelled from the first division, but also Milan! To this moment nobody really thought the investigation was serious – to punish players, to punish small clubs, to punish Lazio was going very far for a country plagued by corruption and back-room deals of dubious legality. But to expell Milan… it went beyond the wildest imagination. And the punishment was not revoked – the final miracle. Italian football ended its arguably worst decade in disgrace. In the same time it started the new decade optimistically: it looked like the Italians were determined to clean their stables and restore the tarnished image of their game. Even the lift of the old ban on imported players seemed well thought, restrained, and helpful to the sport – the clubs were permitted to have one foreign player, but that was ruling for the next season.
As for the season on the field, it was not so great even without the scandal. The old problem remained – careful, defensive football. The tie was still the king and the prime argument for permitting foreign players: they were to help changing the approach. But here were foreigners in 1979-80 and it was the same as ever… low scoring, many ties, no fun, but bitter battles for 0-0 and 1 point. Point by point… champions emerged at the end. The winners of the thrid level groups were promoted, happy teams, clubs, and fans.
Rimini – for them going to second division was big success.
Ups and downs for Foggia – from first division to third, and up again. To second division for the moment.
Catania remembered better days, but decline settled in the 1970s and winning a third division group was good enough.
And one more club similar to those above: Varese. At least they had very strong basketball team at the time… but football is the real passion.
Three of the promoted clubs played first division, but at the beginning of the 1980s perhaps only Foggia could have hardboured some hopes for climbing higher. Eventually.