The FA and EFL have announced changes to their cup competitions to ensure that they align with the delayed start of the 2020/21 Premier League season.
In regards to the Carabao Cup, the EFL have confirmed that the semi-finals will be one-off cup ties only, rather than the two-legged affairs they have been in previous years. The competition will start in September with the second, third and fourth rounds being played on consecutive midweeks starting from 15th/16th of the same month.
The FA Cup will have just one preliminary round this season, in order to accommodate the non-league clubs that will be keen on taking part in it. There are usually four qualifying rounds but these will be removed due to the fixture congestion that would have resulted.
Prize money for the world’s oldest cup competition has also been hit by the global health crisis. Rather the £3.6m that the FA Cup winners would have received in previous years, the FA will only be offering £1.8m in 2021.
