Explained: Why Sheffield Wednesday and the EFL desperately need the Carabao Cup
Sheffield Wednesday could start their competitive season in just 18 days as the EFL seek to pack the Carabao Cup first round in ahead of the Championship openers on September 12.
Plans had been put in place to play the first round of fixtures on September 5, which doesn’t look possible for Championship clubs given the weekend has already been scheduled for international fixtures.
The news prompted fans from a number of Football League clubs to question why the Carabao Cup hasn’t been cancelled for the 2020/21 season as clubs and authorities attempt to navigate the cramped schedule.
But the competition is worth a huge amount to EFL clubs; over two-thirds of the annual package paid to them by Sky Sports – around £80 million of a reported £119 million – is for the Carabao Cup itself. Cancelling it, quite simply, is not an option.
Premier League clubs and the FA have produced a £25 million rebate to Sky Sports after the broadcaster successfully argued that the tournament had been devalued after the decision was made to pool the semi-finals into one leg.
Clubs are likely to effectively treat the Carabao Cup game, which the EFL are yet to have announced a draw date for, as a pre-season friendly.
Scotland’s Liam Palmer is likely to be the only Owls player to be involved in the international break.
Top tier clubs are also believed to be in talks to offer a second £55 million solidarity payment to EFL clubs as the football pyramid attempts to battle on against the curtailment of matchday revenue.