Austrian Bundesliga Clubs Agree On League Reforms, Including Introduction Of Playoffs

Austria's top-flight football clubs have agreed to reform the league's structure that will include the introduction of playoffs starting with the '18-19 season. The top-flight Bundesliga will also expand from 10 to 12 clubs in '18. The new structure will affect the second division as its number of teams is set to increase by six teams to 16. To set up the new structures, the '17-18 season will see changed promotion and relegation formats that is expected to establish the 28 teams set to compete across the country's top two football divisions. The Austrian FA (ÖFB) still has to sign off on the proposed changes (Bundesliga). The APA reported that starting with the '18-19 season, the Bundesliga's top six teams after 22 match weeks will qualify for the championship playoffs. The league's six bottom-ranked teams after the cut off date will compete in the relegation playoffs, with both playoffs spanning 10 match weeks (APA, 5/31).

.@OEFBL-Reform: So sieht's ab 2018/19 aus: pic.twitter.com/5LjlzGnB5R

— Johannes Hofer (@Sky_JohannesH) May 31, 2016