What relegation is in football and how it is decided
Relegation means dropping to the lower division at the end of the season, normally for finishing among the last in the table.
Relegation is football's punishment: whoever finishes at the bottom loses his place in the division. In most competitions it is decided by the season's table, although some countries have used averages over several seasons or play-offs for survival.
In ELDT relegation is decided by the final table: no averages. From Season 3 (7 January 2027), in every 16-club league the sides finishing 13th to 16th go straight down, one to each league of the level below, and those finishing 9th to 12th play the promotion play-off to stay up. The bottom division does not relegate.
Relegation removes 10% of the fanbase, once per season. If you are down there, every point counts until the final matchday.
See it in the game: the manager's guide.
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See also: online football manager · guides on the blog