Premier League clubs are considering scrapping FA Cup replays and proposing radical changes to the League Cup, according to reports. The Times claims the new proposals are being considered as part of the “New Deal for Football.”
The report states the plans will be top of the agenda "at a Premier League shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday, sets out the calendar changes as part of a deal to distribute extra funds to the EFL and reform parachute payments." Those close to the plan claim the proposals would scrap third and fourth-round FA Cup replays entirely from the beginning of the 2024 campaign.
Clubs who compete in European competitions would either not compete in the League Cup or would field under-21 sides. The Premier League is said to want to free up space in an already congested calendar, but the report states that Premier League clubs do not want the League Cup to be scrapped nor do they wish for FA Cup games to be played in midweek.
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The EFL are yet to be approached by the Premier League regarding the proposals, but sources claim the governing body would welcome talks regarding the League Cup and FA Cup replays. The report says that EFL clubs would also consider scrapping replays with it 'more likely' that lower league sides could win a tie on penalties rather than a replay if the scores are level.
The Government has also warned the Premier League that they "must deliver hundreds of millions of pounds more to the lower leagues or face the prospect of being forced to do so by legislation. The EFL wants £250 million more," according to the Times.
Club's are now awaiting a decision from new Prime Minister Liz Truss to see whether she'll follow suit of Tracey Crouch and demand an independent regulator for football. The New Deal for Football would also impose new financial regulations in the Sky Bet Championship on a sliding scale of funding based on where they finish in the table, similar to that of the Premier League.
The new deal would also impose a spending cap on both wages and transfers, for the first time in top-flight history, in the hope the EFL would follow suit.
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