Soviet Top League

Common card · No. 262992

The Soviet Top League, known after 1970 as the Higher League (Russian: Чемпионат СССР по футболу: Высшая лига, romanized: Vyschaya Liga), served as the top division (tier) of Soviet Union football championship from 1936 until 1991. Over the years, the league was known by several different names. Created in 1936, the tier was originally known as "Gruppa A" and was one of four tiers that comprised the All-Union football championship. Like everything in the Soviet Union, it was a state-run competition, governed by the All-Union Committee of Physical Culture (an institution of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union). The winner of the competition was honored with the title "USSR Champion" and awarded the All-Union Committee banner. In May of 1959, the Football Federation of the Soviet Union was created, which became the main governing body of football in the Soviet Union. From its inception to its eclipse, the top tier operated in conjunction with the second tier for most of...

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