Premier League clubs agree to Carabao Cup rebate to Sky Sports

Premier League clubs have reportedly agreed to a £25 million rebate for Sky Sports, with the UK pay-TV broadcaster successfully arguing that the 2020/21 Carabao Cup has been devalued.

Despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the schedule, the Carabao Cup is going ahead next season. However, according to reports, potential conflicts with the UEFA Champions League and Europa League will see two-leg semi-finals scrapped and sides competing in Europe fielding weaker sides. 

All 20 Premier League clubs have reportidly agreed to underwrite the majority of the refund to the Carabao Cup’s broadcast partner, while the Football Association (FA) will apparently also make an undisclosed contribution.

The rebate is worth close to a third of Sky’s pending £80 million rights fee for the tournament.

The decision means that clubs in the EFL will be spared any further losses in a time of financial instability. The Carabao Cup makes up to two-thirds of the EFL’s £119 million annual broadcast deal with Sky Sports.

The Premier League was also required to dispatch a rescue package to struggling EFL clubs as a pre-condition to the government’s support for the top-flight’s June restart, with lower-league clubs now said to be considering a request for ‘additional assistance’.

The top-flight clubs are reportedly in talks to advance a second solidarity payment worth £55 million to EFL clubs in October, having already paid the same amount in the wake of the early season curtailments in the third and fourth tiers.