Premier League’s top teams could quit Carabao Cup – or field U21s sides – with talks set for Friday
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English soccer bosses are reportedly set to hold talks on the biggest shakeup of the domestic game in 30 years, with sweeping changes relating to the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community Shield under discussion.
According to The times, six leading figures from the Premier League, FA and EFL will meet in person for the first time on Friday to discuss a range of proposals from top-tier clubs; which include removing FA Cup replays, restricting teams in European competitions to only fielding youth teams in the Carabao Cup, and moving the Community Shield from its usual spot as the season’s backdrop.
The Premier League has submitted the proposals as part of what is being called ‘A New Deal for Football’, which could bring about the most significant changes since its creation in 1992. Its aim is to reduce match congestion from 2024.
English soccer bosses are reportedly set to hold talks on the biggest shakeup of the domestic game in 30 years, which could see Premier League teams drop out of the Carabao Cup.
It’s also in exchange for the Premier League sharing more of its money with the lower divisions, with the EFL asking for additional funding of £300m. However, until now the top-flight teams have only agreed to just over half that figure.
Friday’s meeting will reportedly involve Premier League chairwoman Alison Brittain, who took office this week, as well as her FA and EFL counterparts Debbie Hewitt and Rick Parry.
Richard Masters, chief executive of the Premier League, will also be in attendance, as will his counterparts, the FA’s Mark Bullingham and the EFL’s Trevor Birch.
Six leading figures in the domestic game, including Premier League chief executive Richard Masters (pictured), will meet on Friday to discuss a series of proposals.
One of the changes on the table is to eliminate replays in the FA Cup from the third round.
If the three bodies fail to reach an agreement, an independent government-proposed legal regulator, which is expected to publish a white paper outlining its plans in the coming weeks, could weigh in on a financial deal.
The EFL is understood to be open to modifying the Carabao Cup, if only for what they consider to be an acceptable financial deal.
Options on the table are for clubs competing in European competitions not to participate in the domestic cup competition at all, or to field teams containing under-21 players.
As for the FA Cup, the Premier League is interested in seeing replays removed from the third round, which is when top-tier teams join the competition. Replays are currently held up to the fourth round.
The EFL is open to modifying the Carabao Cup, which could see teams in European competitions drop out of the tournament entirely or field Under-21 teams.
The Community Shield is also on the table, and the timing of the traditional opening match between the Premier League champions and the FA Cup winners will be discussed.
The biggest clubs believe the game, which usually takes place on the Sunday before the Premier League’s opening weekend, disrupts their pre-season preparation as well as their lucrative overseas tours.
Possible alternatives include playing it either on the first weekend or in the middle of the season, moving it to an international market like the United States or, as one club hopes, turning it into an ‘All Stars’ game in which Premier League teams League provide two players each to face stars from other European leagues.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has previously spoken of his desire to see the Premier League launch its own ‘North vs South All Stars’ game in a similar fashion to the NFL and NBA.
The timing of the Community Shield is also expected to be on the table at Friday’s meeting.
Boehly said at the SALT conference in September: “I hope the Premier League learns a little bit of the lesson of American sports and really starts to realize: ‘Why wouldn’t we have a tournament with the bottom four teams? Why not? is there an All-Star Game?’
‘You could do a North vs. South All-Star game in the Premier League and fund whatever the pyramid needed very easily. Everyone likes the idea of more income for the League.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly previously suggested an ‘All Stars’ game
The FA’s sole aim at Friday’s meeting is to raise money for the grassroots game, as MP Tracey Crouch’s fan-led football review suggested, and it will even consider selling its TV rights through the Premier League. if it leads to higher income
The Shadow Culture Secretary for the Labor Party, Lucy Powell, believes that both a financial deal and an independent regulator in English football are required, saying: “The football bodies have missed the deadline to agree a funding just for a full year.” Ministers keep saying that they should reach an agreement, but without legislation and an independent football regulator, this problem will never be solved.
“We cannot wait another year for more lower league clubs to lose their wickets, fall deeper into debt and face possible collapse, while Premier League spending breaks records. The football economy is broken for most clubs.’
However, an independent regulator is not expected to be established for at least another two years.
When the regulation comes into force, it is believed that football clubs and bodies will need to submit sustainable business plans each year to obtain a license for competitions. He would also oversee the testing of owners and directors for potential investors.