Football League new logo: Fans react to 'awful' rebranding as 'EFL'

'Is it bio or non-bio?'

The Football League's new logo, as part of its rebranding as 'EFL' (Football League)

The Football League has announced that it will change its name to the English Football League as part of a major rebranding exercise.

The league’s three divisions will retain the titles of Championship, League One and League Two but a new logo, only the fourth in the organisation’s 127-year history, has been unveiled.

The design is the shape of a football formed of three swathes, each one made up of 24 smaller balls. As a result, the entire logo is made up of 72 small circles, each representing one of the Football League’s 72 member clubs.

Two of the current members, Cardiff City and Newport County, are based in Wales, although this seems to have been overlooked with the new choice of name.

'English Football League' will be shortened to ‘EFL’ to tie in with Premier League’s commonly-used international moniker ‘EPL’.

The reaction to the new logo on social media has been largely negative, with many unfavourably comparing it to that of an energy provider or brand of washing detergent.

The rebranding's press release describes the logo as "...a stunning new visual identity featuring a dynamic circular arrangement".

“In an increasingly-challenging global sports market, it is absolutely essential that sports properties can project a modern identity that not only resonates with their regular audience but is also easily recognisable to a broader audience of potential fans, viewers and commercial partners,” said the Shaun Harve, the Football League’s chief executive, upon its release today.

The rebrand will come into full use at the end of the season.