Editing Playoffs (section)

=== England and Wales===
{{Main|English Football League play-offs}}

When [[English Football League|the Football League]] was first expanded to two divisions in 1892, [[Football League test matches|test matches]] were employed to decide relegation and promotion between them, but the practice was scrapped in favour of automatic relegation and promotion in 1898.

The use of play-offs to decide promotion issues returned to the League in 1986 with the desire to reduce the number of mid-table clubs with nothing to play for at the end of the season. The Football Conference, now known as the [[National League (English football)|National League]], introduced play-offs in 2002 after the Football League agreed to a two-club exchange with the Conference.

The top two teams in the [[EFL Championship]] and in [[EFL League One]] are automatically promoted to the division above and thus do not compete in the play-offs. The top three teams in [[EFL League Two]] and the champion of the [[National League (division)|National League]] (formerly known as Conference Premier) are also automatically promoted. In EFL playoffs, the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places compete in two-legged semi-finals with the higher-placed club enjoying home advantage in the second leg. In the National League however, the six clubs finishing below the champions compete in playoffs - the lower four competing in an elimination match to decide who plays in the semifinals (the top two receive a bye into the semifinals). The [[away goals rule]] does not apply for the semi-finals. The Football League play-off finals were originally played in two legs, at both teams' home grounds, but were later changed to one-off affairs, which are played at [[Wembley Stadium]] in London.

Teams are also promoted using a play-off tournament from levels six to eight of the [[English football league system|football pyramid]].  At level six, the play-off semi-finals are two leg ties with the final being a single match played at the home ground of the highest placed of the two teams.  At levels seven and eight, all of the ties are single matches played at the home ground of the team with the highest league position.

In 2003, [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] proposed replacing the current play-off system with one involving six clubs from each division and replacing the two-legged ties with one-off matches.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} If adopted, the two higher-placed clubs in the play-offs would have enjoyed first-round byes and home advantage in the semi-finals. It was a controversial proposal — some people did not believe a club finishing only in eighth position in the League could (or should) compete in the [[FA Premier League|Premiership]] while others found the system too American for their liking.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} Although League chairmen initially voted in favour of the proposal, it was blocked by [[The Football Association|The FA]] and soon abandoned.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}}

The championship of every division in English football is determined solely by the standings in the league. However, a championship play-off would be held if the top two teams were tied for points, goal difference, goals scored in both their overall league record, and identical head-to-head record (including head-to-head away goals scored); to date, this has never happened. A play-off would also be scheduled if two teams are tied as above for a position affecting promotion, relegation, or European qualification.