Major changes are on the horizon for the Carabao Cup, as the competition is set to abandon its traditional two-legged semi-finals starting from the 2023-24 season. This alteration is motivated by a desire to ease fixture congestion for Premier League clubs.
The English Football League (EFL) has been swayed to transition to one-off semi-final matches. A report from the Daily Mail suggests that negotiations with Sky Sports for a broadcast deal for the upcoming season have been instrumental in this decision.
As part of this arrangement, there will be no financial penalty for scrapping the two-legged semi-finals. Additionally, the Premier League has proposed funding worth £900 million over a six-year period to support the EFL.
For this transformation to become a reality, it must receive approval from the 20 top-flight clubs. These clubs have already been informed about the proposed format change.
The Carabao Cup, formerly known under various sponsor names, has featured two-legged semi-finals since its inception in the 1960-61 season.
While fixture congestion has long been a driving factor for this change, the competition represents a significant source of revenue for the EFL. The semi-finals, particularly the ones held in January, also draw considerable broadcast interest.
The current season’s Carabao Cup will continue with the fourth round matches taking place this week, followed by the quarter-final draw after the Manchester United vs. Newcastle match.
