If you’re a sucker for tradition in soccer, then this concept will sound quite controversial to you. But as is the case in a number of other leagues across the globe, they have playoffs to decide who is crowned the champion of their respective leagues.
Yes, the vast majority of the main leagues in Europe do not follow this format. A team that manages to outlast everyone over the course of the season deserves to be the king of the league, right?
Some leagues each year also have a champion that was pretty much set in stone around Christmas time, with one example being Manchester City this season. We all knew they were going to win the league at that point, and if you thought they would slip up at some point then you are probably a delusional Manchester United fan. #SorryNotSorry
Your counter-point for a playoff system in the EPL might be that you don’t get that last minute drama on the final day. If there are playoffs, it might not create the same amount of excitement and buzz on the final day that so often happens. I mean, could anyone have foreseen the drama that would take place when Sergio Aguero scored THAT goal to gift Manchester City the title in 2012?
While the final day can create plenty of intrigue, would the playoffs not do the same, if not more? Would it not be more interesting if the top team had to prove itself some more against the teams around them just a few more times? Imagine if Arsenal won the Premier League playoffs! It would be something special to see.
Playoffs give a second chance to teams that have been consistently successful all season long, despite not finishing in the top spot. It also means that the first-place team needs to prove itself yet again to truly establish its dominance.
A number of leagues in Europe even have a relegation playoff. The Bundesliga in Germany is one example of this, where the 16th placed team in the Bundesliga faces the third-place team in the Bundesliga 2 across two legs.
Could this be another type of playoff in the Premier League, where the 17th-place team faces off against third in the championship? It would have a trickle-down effect on all the other English leagues below the Premier League that already have a playoff system in place for promotion. It would require a lot of work from everyone to make it happen.
With all of that said, it makes for an interesting debate. A number of other leagues use the playoff format to decide who is champion, and it works out pretty well. Chances are very slim that the Premier League ever adopts this format, but it never hurts to think “what if?” Now, if we can have some more drama on the final day of the Premier League season, that would be just fine by us.
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