The
Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) was expanded during the
1980–81 season from 28 to 32 member clubs. These were divided into two tiers of 16 teams each. The top tier was named Nationalliga A (NLA) and the second tier was named Nationalliga B (NLB). The format in both divisions was that the teams played a double
round-robin to decide their table positions. Each club playing every other club twice (home and away) for a total of 30 rounds. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a draw. The Swiss champions would qualify for the
1982–83 European Cup, the runners-up and third placed team would qualify for the
1982–83 UEFA Cup. The last two placed teams in the NLA were relegated to the NLB for the following season. The top two placed teams in the NLB would be promoted to the top tier. The last three teams in the NLB were relegated to
next season's 1. Liga and would be replaced by the best three teams from
this season's 1. Liga. ==Nationalliga A==