Extra-time scrapped in EFL Cup rule changes

Teams will not have to play extra-time in EFL Cup games next season after the governing body announced a number of rule changes.

Published : Jun 08, 2018 20:09 IST

The English Football League has announced that extra-time will not feature in EFL Cup matches next season, along with a number of rule changes in the competition.

Penalty shoot-outs will take place immediately when games are drawn after 90 minutes, but penalties will be taken in the traditional sequence rather than the ABBA format trialled in 2017-18's EFL Cup.

The rule change is intended to reduce the impact of EFL Cup matches on players' fitness, after statistical analysis showed that more than 15 per cent of matches went to extra-time over a three-year period.

READ: Winter break confirmed for Premier League from 2019-20

Other rule changes include the removal of seeding arrangements in the first two rounds of the competition, as voted for by EFL clubs, but fixtures in the first round will continue to be regionalised into North and South sections.

The governing body also announced that video assistant referees can be used in any EFL Cup fixtures played in a Premier League stadium.

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