What is relegation in soccer? Taking a detailed look at the meaning, consequences, pros and cons

Despite being the same sport all over the world, soccer rules differ in the United States as compared to their European counterparts. In fact, most sports in the US follow a set league system that ensures teams remain in the same division for as long as they exist. This has led to one of the biggest differences in how soccer is played on both continents, with Europe following the system of relegation.

In the MLS, teams are part of a collective ownership umbrella of the league rather than being independent entities. This makes every club a partner rather than rivals – a concept likely to be alien in the European system, where relegation and promotion is the norm. So, what exactly do we mean by relegation in soccer?

Relegation in Soccer

Every season as league campaigns come to a perfect simmer around the months of March or April, conversations about the situation at both ends of the table begin to gather momentum. Big leagues such as the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A and the Bundesliga all follow the relegation-promotion system, with commentators and pundits usually creating a buzz around the relegation battle towards the end of the season.

Relegation in soccer basically means demotion to a lower division due to a lack of points won through wins and draws. This happens to teams when they finish the season in the relegation zone, which is a fixed number of teams that will face the drop at the end of each season. In turn, teams that finish in the top 2-3 spots in the lower division get promoted to take the places of teams that have been relegated.

Various leagues have different number of teams that get relegated or promoted, but the number is always predetermined. For instance, the Premier League has 20 teams, from which the bottom three get relegated to the EFL Championship at the end of each season, while three teams come up. The Bundesliga, on the other hand, has two fixed relegation spots, with the team coming 16^th having to face the third-placed team from Bundesliga 2 in a play-off to determine the outcome.

Promotion in Soccer

Promotion is essentially the opposite of relegation, wherein the top-performing teams from lower divisions are moved up to the higher divisions, from where the lowest-standing teams are relegated. Teams give it their all to be promoted to a higher division, since playing at the top level means they have better access to funds, visibility and also the opportunity to face the best teams in any given country.

Retaining a spot in cash-rich leagues like the Premier League is extremely difficult, which is why clubs invest huge amount of money into player recruitment and planning for survival in the league. Teams often face significant financial losses if and when they do get relegated, adding an extra layer of competition in the bottom half of the table among teams looking to avoid the drop.

While most leagues have automatic promotion to the higher divisions, some leagues like the EFL Championship in England will have end-of-season playoffs. The top two teams get promoted to the Premier League, while teams that finish between third and sixth place play a short tournament to determine which team takes the final promotion spot.

While being promoted is an achievement to be proud of and something that club owners chase, relegation in soccer has some serious consequences – some which clubs never recover from. Let’s take a look at what those are.

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Consequences of Relegation

The implications of relegation in soccer weigh heavy on the minds of the top brass at every club in the bottom half of the table during the business end of the season. Being in the bottom two or three spots is a matter of great concern, and let’s take a look at why that is. Here are some consequences of relegation in soccer:

• Financial Cost – Being relegated to a lower division essentially means downgrading on several resources. While higher divisions guarantee money from TV rights deals and other visibility-related factors, the same cannot be said about playing in lower divisions, where teams have fewer means of generating revenue. Losing out on this income could prove fatal for some clubs who are unable to recover from financial losses after being relegated.
• Losing Players – As is the case in most sports across the world, players strive to be the best and to compete against the best teams. Relegation to a lower division essentially means playing against lesser teams, which could discourage several players. These players then seek for opportunities at clubs that are better-placed, which could result in a mass exodus in the event of being relegated.
• Losing Managers & Staff – Much like the players, managers and backroom staff have their ambitions of competing at the highest level as well. In the even of relegation in soccer, teams could see managers and their coaching staff vacating their roles in order to seek better opportunities.
• Loss of Pride – It is often observed that teams have a great sense of pride for never being relegated, or for avoiding relegation in last-gasp circumstances towards the end of a season. Relegation in soccer can be humiliating not just for the club, but also for their fans. This applies especially to clubs that have historically been fairly successful but face the drop under dire circumstances.

While the consequences are mostly negative, there could be a few scenarios in which relegation in soccer can benefit clubs, and the competition in general.

Pros & Cons of Relegation in Soccer

Pros

There are a few positive aspects that relegation in soccer ensures remain intact.

• Having a system of relegation and promotion can add to the sporting integrity of a competition, ensuring teams compete at their highest level until the last match of the season.
• Some leagues like the NBA follow a process of ‘tanking’, which is when teams realise they cannot compete until the end and resort to a losing approach, with no consequences whatsoever. The same cannot be said in leagues where relegation and promotion is the norm.
• Finally, this system allows some of the smaller or newer clubs the opportunity to show their mettle and rise up the football ladder in their country to compete with the top clubs. This ensures a fair chance to any ambitious club at any level of football.

Cons

• Relegation to lower divisions puts teams under severe financial stress – a situation completely alien to leagues with a closed system. The latter provides financial security to teams, ensuring a fair distribution of revenue across the league.
• The threat of relegation in cash-rich leagues like the Premier League also prevent teams from building for the future. It causes tunnel-vision wherein teams plan for one season at a time, which could impact the health of a club in the long-run.
• The pressure to achieve results in order to maintain their spot in the top leagues is often massive, resulting in a free movement of coaches and other staff among the leagues.

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