- Carabao Cup to scrap two-legged semis
- Fixture congestion motivates change
- Premier League to help with EFL funding
WHAT HAPPENED? The EFL have been convinced to switch to one-off semi-final games. According to the Daily Mail, the organisation has been negotiating a broadcast deal with Sky Sports starting next season that includes no penalty charge for scrapping two-legged semis, as well as proposed funding from the Premier League worth £900 million over six years. That package must first be signed off by the 20 top-flight clubs, who have already been made aware of the format change proposal.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: The League Cup (run by the EFL and known by a variety of sponsor names over the years) has had two-legged semi-finals since it debuted in the 1960-61 season. Two-legged ties were additionally introduced to early rounds from the mid-1970s, but were scrapped in 2001. Fixture congestion is the leading motivation for the semi-finals to now follow suit and has been for some time. But with the competition a major source of revenue for the EFL and the January semi-finals of particular broadcast interest, other things have had to fall into place before the change can happen.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THE CARABAO CUP? This season's competition resumes this week, with the eight fourth round ties to be played across Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The quarter-final draw will then take place straight after the conclusion of Manchester United vs Newcastle.