Backlash from fans after EFL clubs approve Championship play-off expansion to six teams

There has been backlash from fans on social media after EFL clubs approve Championship play-off expansion to six teams.

Championship clubs have voted to expand play-offs to six teams from next season, meaning there will be a one-legged quarter-final for teams finishing 5th-8th, with the winners facing teams in 3rd and 4th.

The new system sees teams that finish 3rd to 8th will compete for promotion to the Premier League. But the news hasn’t gone down very well with fans.

From the 26/27 season, the #SkyBetChampionship Play-Offs will be expanded to six teams.

Read more: https://t.co/E8Njme9iOL#EFL pic.twitter.com/eWqfM8TB08

— EFL (@EFL) March 5, 2026

The EFL said in a statement that at a General Meeting on Thursday morning: EFL clubs have approved changes to expand the number of teams competing in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs from four to six, starting in the 2026/27 season.

The decision is intended to increase the number of competitive fixtures during the closing stages of the campaign, while also giving two additional Clubs the opportunity to reach the Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium and progress to the Premier League.

EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch, said: “Since their introduction in 1986/87, the Play-Offs have become a highlight of the domestic football calendar, capturing the drama, suspense and jeopardy that make the EFL so special.

“Following several months of discussion with Clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more Clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion.”

Sky Bet EFL Play-Offs Format – 2026/27

The Play-Offs in the Championship will consist of seven fixtures

The two winners of the eliminator ties will progress to the semi-finals (against the teams finishing 3rd and 4th in the table). These games will be played over two legs.

The two winning semi-finalists will meet in the Championship Play-Off final.

The exact final format will be agreed later in 2026.

As mentioned, there has been backlash from fans after EFL clubs approve a Championship play-off expansion to six teams…

@CAslett97: You finish 8th possibly 15/20 points behind 3rd and can get promoted. What a sham.

@Finlay_Rufc5: Final nail in the coffin, ruined one of the only good things left in football just because of greed. No team finishing 8th should have a chance of promotion

@ConnorParker10: There’s so much wrong with the game and you’re changing stuff that isn’t broken, nice one lads 👍🏼

@HLTCO: Let’s find something everyone loves the way it is and change it for the sake of money.

@DanTakesOnFooty: Absolutely needless. The play offs are perfect the way they are. Cant believe this got changed when nobody asked for it but the #3Up campaign can’t change things! Football is so ridiculous at times.

@connFUT: So if you finish 8th you could get promoted to the prem but if you finish 2nd in the national league you’re not even guaranteed promotion 🤣😭

@FeedTheSpud: If clubs can vote in favour of having a greater chance of leaving the EFL via promotion then they should also vote in favour leaving it via relegation in League 2. I’d argue 3 up from the National League needs to happen far more than the expansion of the Championship play-offs

@sussexwhites: No one wanted this football was made by the fans you didnt consult fans… Fuck the EFL

@Alexcraiggh: Sorry is this a joke? The backlash from this being proposed was so bad everyone reporting on it deleted their posts. I assumed this crazy idea was another silly one like the super league that was never ever going to happen. The past three season’s has shown the gap between the Premier League and Championship. But this will benefit them clubs in 7th and 8th that aren’t good enough for a top 6 championship finish yet could end up in the Premier League. Absolute Joke.

@BluesDan_: Shock, every single team was going to vote yes because it gives them a better chance at promotion. Bottom line is a team finishing 8th should not have a chance at promotion to the premier league over someone 3rd who could finish 25 points ahead of them 🥴

@_The72: Results of our poll had 84% of 794 votes against the play-off expansion. Clubs were never going to turn down a higher chance of promotion, but 8th getting a shot at the PL is a joke. No decisions are made in the fans’ interests anymore. Those at the top only serve themselves.

@Leightonharri23: Just go fuck yourselves. The teams who voted for this need to be announced to the public. 8th place should never have a chance of going up to the Premier league. There was nothing wrong with top 6. The games fucking dying

@AllThingsBlades : Absolutely shite but anything for money i suppose!

@watson37uk: Absolute disgrace this , got it so wrong , promotion / relegation needs a massive overhaul not the play offs . Should be top 3 promoted then next four play off in all divisions. And then bottom 4 relegated even from the premier league . Would make teams more competitive.

@nocontextfm1:
✅ Everyone liked the previous format
✅ Previous format wasn’t broken
✅ Changed for no reason whatsoever
Modern football ✅

@C0n_TwT:
Get your black suits and dresses out, guys. We’ve lost the game.
RIP Football
1863-2025 🕊️

@olivertomlin3: Millwall have finished 8th half the time since being promoted in 16/17 and I am so against this. Not one of those seasons should we have got playoffs as we bottled it makes this season so much more worth it. This ruins the league and ruins the game

@JakePrice1927: Absolutely pathetic. Modern football is slowly but surely getting worse and worse. No consultation with fans or anything. Pathetic decision from all involved. How can you finish 8th and potentially have a chance to go up?

@m1871e: So now the Championship has different rules to League One and Two? What a mess of a corporation these lot are 😂😂

@louorns: Football has a weird habit of changing things that doesn’t need to be changed. What on earth is this shite

@MOTweets1919: Imagine finishing 8th and going up through the play-offs ffs. How this can be a thing but three up three down isn’t a thing in League 2/National League is beyond me