diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index df01205447c..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class MirrorComment
-{
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if (rand(0, 1)) {
-        } else {
-            // a comment
-            if (rand(1, 2)) {
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-?>
------
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class MirrorComment
-{
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if (rand(0, 1)) {
-        } elseif (rand(1, 2)) {
-            // a comment
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment2.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment2.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index bd234e0fc59..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment2.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class MirrorComment2
-{
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if (rand(0, 1)) {
-        } else {
-            // a comment
-            if (rand(1, 2)) {
-                // other comment
-                echo 'some statement';
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-?>
------
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class MirrorComment2
-{
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if (rand(0, 1)) {
-        } elseif (rand(1, 2)) {
-            // a comment
-            // other comment
-            echo 'some statement';
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment3.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment3.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 3df2cbb3961..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment3.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class MirrorComment3
-{
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if (rand(0, 1)) {
-        } else {
-            // a comment
-            if (rand(1, 2)) {
-                // other comment
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-?>
------
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class MirrorComment3
-{
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if (rand(0, 1)) {
-        } elseif (rand(1, 2)) {
-            // a comment
-            // other comment
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment_deep_comment.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment_deep_comment.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 665ad1aecbd..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/mirror_comment_deep_comment.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-final class MirrorCommentDeepComment
-{
-    public function run(int $arg, array $b_arg)
-    {
-        if ($arg > 5) {
-            echo 'a';
-        } else {
-            // above if comment
-            if ($a === 5) {
-                // inside if comment
-                foreach ($b_arg as $element) {
-                    // inside foreach comment
-                    echo $element;
-                }
-                echo 'b';
-            } else {
-                // inside else comment
-                echo 'c';
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-?>
------
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-final class MirrorCommentDeepComment
-{
-    public function run(int $arg, array $b_arg)
-    {
-        if ($arg > 5) {
-            echo 'a';
-        } elseif ($a === 5) {
-            // above if comment
-            // inside if comment
-            foreach ($b_arg as $element) {
-                // inside foreach comment
-                echo $element;
-            }
-            echo 'b';
-        } else {
-            // inside else comment
-            echo 'c';
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/nested_else.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/nested_else.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 4326fe191f9..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/nested_else.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class NestedElse
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } else {
-            if ($this->cond2) {
-                $this->doSomething();
-            } else {
-                $this->doSomething();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
-
-?>
------
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class NestedElse
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } elseif ($this->cond2) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } else {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/nested_elseif.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/nested_elseif.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index e10b38335db..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/nested_elseif.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class NestedElseif
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond3;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } else {
-            if ($this->cond2) {
-                $this->doSomething();
-            } elseif ($this->cond3) {
-                $this->doSomething();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
-
-?>
------
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class NestedElseif
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond3;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } elseif ($this->cond2) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } elseif ($this->cond3) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/recursive.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/recursive.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index afe51a5698a..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/recursive.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,83 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class Recursive
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond3;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } else {
-            if ($this->cond2) {
-                $this->doSomething();
-            } else {
-                if ($this->cond3) {
-                    $this->doSomething();
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
-
-?>
------
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class Recursive
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond3;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } elseif ($this->cond2) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } elseif ($this->cond3) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/simple.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/simple.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 9e3300b911f..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/simple.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,67 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class Simple
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } else {
-            if ($this->cond2) {
-                $this->doSomething();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
-
-?>
------
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class Simple
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } elseif ($this->cond2) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
-
-?>
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_alternative_syntax.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_alternative_syntax.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 3edb1782341..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_alternative_syntax.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-function skipAlternativeSyntax($n, $c, $x, $e, $d)
-{
-    if ($n == $c) :
-        $a = 1;
-    else :
-        if ($x || $n <= $e) :
-            $a = 2;
-        elseif ($d && ! $x) :
-            $a = 3;
-        endif;
-    endif;
-
-    return $a;
-}
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_empty_else.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_empty_else.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index b3895c14bba..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_empty_else.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class SkipEmptyElse
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            return 1;
-        } else {
-            // some comment
-            [];
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_inner_alternative_syntax.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_inner_alternative_syntax.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 83c2c5ef34a..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_inner_alternative_syntax.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-function skipInnerAlternativeSyntax($cond1, $cond2)
-{
-    if ($cond1) {
-        $a = 1;
-    } else {
-        if ($cond2) :
-            $a = 2;
-        endif;
-    }
-
-    return $a;
-}
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_multiple_stmts.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_multiple_stmts.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index e5d54ab5ca6..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_multiple_stmts.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class SkipMultipleStmts
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } else {
-            if ($this->cond2) {
-                $this->doSomething();
-            }
-            $this->doSomething();
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_no_else_if.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_no_else_if.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index f271d6a9472..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_no_else_if.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class SkipNoElseIf
-{
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond1;
-
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    private $cond2;
-
-    public function run()
-    {
-        if ($this->cond1) {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        } else {
-            $this->doSomething();
-        }
-    }
-
-    public function doSomething()
-    {
-
-    }
-}
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_with_html.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_with_html.php.inc
deleted file mode 100644
index 27b76053e92..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/Fixture/skip_with_html.php.inc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\Fixture;
-
-class SkipWithHTML
-{
-    private function renderMenu(): void {
-		?>
-        <div>
-            <?php if ($menuItem->is_main_item) : ?>
-                <a href="#" class="<?= $aClass ?>">
-                    <div class="flex items-center gap-2 pointer-events-none">
-                        <?= $menuItem->icon ? $this->Icon->render($menuItem->icon) : '' ?>
-                        <?= $title ?>
-                    </div>
-                </a>
-            <?php else :
-                if ($menuItem->is_external_url) {
-                    echo $this->Html->link($title, $menuItem->url, [
-                        'menu-icon' => $menuItem->icon ?? false,
-                        'class' => $aClass,
-                    ]);
-                } elseif ($menuItem->parsed_url && $menuItem->is_url_valid) {
-                    echo $this->Html->linkFromPath($title, $menuItem->parsed_url, [], [
-                        'menu-icon' => $menuItem->icon ?? false,
-                        'class' => $aClass,
-                    ]);
-                } else {
-                    // Do something?
-                }
-            endif; ?>
-		</div>
-        <?php
-    }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/ShortenElseIfRectorTest.php b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/ShortenElseIfRectorTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index e161a06c6f3..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/ShortenElseIfRectorTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector;
-
-use Iterator;
-use PHPUnit\Framework\Attributes\DataProvider;
-use Rector\Testing\PHPUnit\AbstractRectorTestCase;
-
-final class ShortenElseIfRectorTest extends AbstractRectorTestCase
-{
-    #[DataProvider('provideData')]
-    public function test(string $filePath): void
-    {
-        $this->doTestFile($filePath);
-    }
-
-    public static function provideData(): Iterator
-    {
-        return self::yieldFilesFromDirectory(__DIR__ . '/Fixture');
-    }
-
-    public function provideConfigFilePath(): string
-    {
-        return __DIR__ . '/config/configured_rule.php';
-    }
-}
diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/config/configured_rule.php b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/config/configured_rule.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 6f875477afc..00000000000
--- a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector/config/configured_rule.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-use Rector\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector;
-use Rector\Config\RectorConfig;
-
-return RectorConfig::configure()
-    ->withRules([ShortenElseIfRector::class]);
diff --git a/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector.php b/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector.php
index 63ce3bd9ee0..c823a01d7e0 100644
--- a/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector.php
+++ b/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/If_/ShortenElseIfRector.php
@@ -5,21 +5,17 @@
 namespace Rector\CodeQuality\Rector\If_;
 
 use PhpParser\Node;
-use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\Else_;
-use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\ElseIf_;
 use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\If_;
-use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\Nop;
-use PhpParser\Token;
-use Rector\Contract\Rector\HTMLAverseRectorInterface;
-use Rector\NodeTypeResolver\Node\AttributeKey;
+use Rector\Configuration\Deprecation\Contract\DeprecatedInterface;
+use Rector\Exception\ShouldNotHappenException;
 use Rector\Rector\AbstractRector;
 use Symplify\RuleDocGenerator\ValueObject\CodeSample\CodeSample;
 use Symplify\RuleDocGenerator\ValueObject\RuleDefinition;
 
 /**
- * @see \Rector\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector\ShortenElseIfRectorTest
+ * @deprecated This rule is deprecated, as merging `else`/`if` into `elseif` creates less readable code and breaks the logical reading of the if train.
  */
-final class ShortenElseIfRector extends AbstractRector implements HTMLAverseRectorInterface
+final class ShortenElseIfRector extends AbstractRector implements DeprecatedInterface
 {
     public function getRuleDefinition(): RuleDefinition
     {
@@ -71,81 +67,9 @@ public function getNodeTypes(): array
      */
     public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
     {
-        return $this->shortenElseIf($node);
-    }
-
-    private function shortenElseIf(If_ $node): ?If_
-    {
-        if (! $node->else instanceof Else_) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        $else = $node->else;
-        if (count($else->stmts) !== 1) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        $if = $else->stmts[0];
-        if (! $if instanceof If_) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        // alternative syntax (if/else/endif) cannot be merged to elseif without producing mixed brace/colon syntax
-        if ($this->isAlternativeSyntax($node) || $this->isAlternativeSyntax($if)) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        // Try to shorten the nested if before transforming it to elseif
-        $refactored = $this->shortenElseIf($if);
-
-        if ($refactored instanceof If_) {
-            $if = $refactored;
-        }
-
-        if ($if->stmts === []) {
-            $nop = new Nop();
-            $nop->setAttribute(AttributeKey::COMMENTS, $if->getComments());
-            $if->stmts[] = $nop;
-        } else {
-            $currentStmt = current($if->stmts);
-            $mergedComments = array_merge($if->getComments(), $currentStmt->getComments());
-            $currentStmt->setAttribute(AttributeKey::COMMENTS, $mergedComments);
-        }
-
-        $node->elseifs[] = new ElseIf_($if->cond, $if->stmts);
-
-        $node->else = $if->else;
-
-        $node->elseifs = array_merge($node->elseifs, $if->elseifs);
-
-        return $node;
-    }
-
-    private function isAlternativeSyntax(If_ $if): bool
-    {
-        $startTokenPos = $if->cond->getEndTokenPos();
-        if ($startTokenPos < 0) {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        $oldTokens = $this->getFile()
-            ->getOldTokens();
-
-        for ($i = $startTokenPos + 1; isset($oldTokens[$i]); ++$i) {
-            $token = $oldTokens[$i];
-            if (! $token instanceof Token) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            if ($token->text === ':') {
-                return true;
-            }
-
-            if ($token->text === '{') {
-                return false;
-            }
-        }
-
-        return false;
+        throw new ShouldNotHappenException(sprintf(
+            '"%s" rule is deprecated, as it creates less readable code and breaks the logical reading of the if train',
+            self::class
+        ));
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Config/Level/CodeQualityLevel.php b/src/Config/Level/CodeQualityLevel.php
index b24712e76c7..ba52e7b8bff 100644
--- a/src/Config/Level/CodeQualityLevel.php
+++ b/src/Config/Level/CodeQualityLevel.php
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
 use Rector\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ArrayExplicitBoolCompareRector;
 use Rector\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ConsecutiveNullCompareReturnsToNullCoalesceQueueRector;
 use Rector\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ObjectExplicitBoolCompareRector;
-use Rector\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\ShortenElseIfRector;
 use Rector\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\SimplifyIfNotNullReturnRector;
 use Rector\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\SimplifyIfNullableReturnRector;
 use Rector\CodeQuality\Rector\If_\SimplifyIfReturnBoolRector;
@@ -144,7 +143,6 @@ final class CodeQualityLevel
         StrlenZeroToIdenticalEmptyStringRector::class,
         ArrayExplicitBoolCompareRector::class,
         ObjectExplicitBoolCompareRector::class,
-        ShortenElseIfRector::class,
         ThrowWithPreviousExceptionRector::class,
         RemoveSoleValueSprintfRector::class,
         ExplicitReturnNullRector::class,