Premier League clubs are ready to demand the abolition of the League Cup as the price for providing a rescue package to the lower divisions.
Under the terms of the tripartite agreement signed by the Premier League, FA and Football League in 1992, all top-flight clubs are contractually obliged to enter the League Cup every season, but the competition is coming under increasing pressure due to fixture congestion, which has been exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.
UEFA’s announcement earlier this week that next season’s Champions League and Europa League group stages will take place between October 20 and December 10 has brought the issue into sharp focus, as many of those midweek dates are currently used for the League Cup, raising doubts as to whether leading clubs would be able to enter next season.