Playoff
The playoff is a term from sport. It is a possibility to bring about a decision between two opponents of equal strength up to then if a tie (tie) is not intended.
- Alternatives are
- extend the playing time
- add additional rounds of play (e.g. additional innings in baseball )
- Penalty kicks (e.g. penalty shootout in football, seven-meter throw in handball , penalty shootout in ice hockey )
- Use subordinate comparisons (e.g. number of penalties, UEFA coefficients )
- To solve
Soccer
In football, the term play-off refers to an encounter between two teams in which, for example, a decision is made about the promotion or relegation of a team to the next higher or next lower division . The prerequisite for a play-off is the number of points of the two clubs concerned after the end of the season and the associated placement on a rank in the table that is important for promotion or relegation.
In Germany, relegation games with a return leg are played between the third from bottom of the Bundesliga and the third from the 2nd Bundesliga . Relegation games with a return leg will also be played between the third from bottom of the 2nd Bundesliga and the third from the 3rd division . The three promoted players in the 3rd division will be determined between the five regional league champions and the runner-up in the Regionalliga Südwest in a promotion round with three matches in the first and second leg. In the lower divisions, decisions are made in the first and second leg or in a game, if necessary by penalty shoot-out .
However, play-offs also occur in cup competitions such as the FA Cup or, earlier, the DFB Cup , if a game ends in a draw. In the DFB Cup, however, overtime was played first in the event of a tie. There were also play-offs in UEFA's European Cup competitions when an encounter with a return leg ended with equal points and goals. As a rule, these were held on a neutral place.
In qualifying for the 2010 World Cup , a play-off between Algeria and Egypt had to decide whether to participate in the World Cup in South Africa . After the regular games, Egypt and Algeria were tied in their group (13 points), had the same goal difference in all games in their group (+5) and also scored the same absolute number of goals (9). In a direct match against each other, they had each won once (3 points) and scored the same goal difference (3: 3). According to the FIFA rules, there was no drawing of lots between the two teams and instead a playoff was set in a neutral country, the winner of which finally qualified for participation in the World Cup. Algeria won the game in Omdurman ( Sudan ) 1-0.
tennis
In tennis , the tie-break is sometimes referred to as a play-off game that aims to bring about a decision in one set in favor of one of the two players.
Barrage
In sports that have their origins in France such as pétanque or are very popular in France such as rugby or cycling , the term barrage is used for play-offs or races. The term is mainly used in French-speaking countries in football.
See also: play-off