IT’S the most exciting time of the EFL season as the play-offs return following the promotion of Watford and Norwich to the Premier League.
As is the tradition, the campaign will conclude at Wembley, with the play-off semi-finals and finals to be played in front of fans if the government roadmap stays on track.
Brentford, Swansea, Bournemouth and Barnsley are the teams who will have to fight it out for the final place in the Premier League this season.
When are the EFL play-offs?
The EFL play-off dates are as follows:
Championship
Semi-finals
- Monday, May 17 – Bournemouth vs Brentford (6pm)
- Monday, May 17 – Barnsley vs Swansea (8.15pm)
- Saturday, May 22 – Brentford vs Bournemouth (12.30pm)
- Saturday, May 22 – Swansea vs Barnsley (5.30pm)
Final
- Saturday, May 29 (3pm)
League One
Semi-finals
- Tuesday, May 18 – Oxford vs Blackpool (6pm)
- Wednesday, May 19 – Lincoln vs Sunderland (6pm)
- Friday, May 21 – Blackpool vs Oxford (7.45pm)
- Saturday, May 22 – Sunderland vs Lincoln (3pm)
Final
- Sunday, May 30 (3pm)
League Two
Semi-finals
- Tuesday, May 18 – Newport vs Forest Green (8.15pm)
- Thursday, May 20 – Tranmere vs Morecambe (6pm)
- Sunday, May 23 – Morecambe vs Tranmere (12.30pm)
- Sunday, May 23 – Forest Green vs Newport (6.30pm)
What TV channel are EFL play-off matches on and can I live stream them?
- Sky Sports hold exclusive rights to EFL coverage, including the play-off games.
- Matches will be shown live on channels such as Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
- Some matches may be shown on the Sky Sports Red Button if they overlap with others.
- To stream EFL play-off matches live, head to your Sky Go account.
- Non-Sky Sports subscribers can still watch all the action with a Now TV Day Pass from £9.99.
How many fans will be allowed to attend the EFL play-offs?
The EFL has announced that the play-offs will be held from Monday, May 17 – the date on which the government will allow fans to return to stadiums according to the current roadmap.
That means that ALL play-off matches will have fans attending as things stand.
The roadmap states: “The government will also allow some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number).
“In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).“
This can be taken to mean that the play-off finals at Wembley will be played in front of 10,000 fans unless otherwise specified.
However, it has yet to be confirmed whether participating EFL teams’ stadiums qualify as larger or smaller outdoor venues.
Will the play-offs have away fans?
Premier League CEO Richard Masters declared his intention for 500 away fans to attend the last two games of the season when fans return to stadiums.
However, these plans were later scrapped.
The EFL have not currently suggested that away fans will be allowed to attend the play-off semi-finals.
