Carabao Cup Semi-Final Draw Details and VAR Implementation

Liverpool, the reigning Carabao Cup champions and the competition’s most successful club, is among three teams that have already secured a place in the semi-finals. Newcastle and Arsenal have also qualified, with either Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United set to complete the final four after their quarter-final match on Thursday. The draw for the semi-finals will occur immediately following that fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Coverage will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live starting from 19:00 GMT, with the semi-final draw itself anticipated to commence around 22:30 GMT. The Carabao Cup semi-finals are contested over two legs. The initial leg is scheduled for the week commencing 6 January 2025, and the return leg will take place in the week of 3 February 2025. This two-legged format has been in place since the tournament’s inception in 1960, though it has recently faced scrutiny. A proposal for a single-leg tie has been put forward as a potential solution to alleviate current issues related to fixture congestion and match scheduling. However, earlier this year, EFL chief executive Trevor Birch stated that two-legged semi-finals “provide significant financial benefit to EFL clubs” and would not be abolished without “significant levels of compensation.” The final match is scheduled for 16 March 2025 at Wembley Stadium. To date, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has not been utilized in this season’s tournament. However, VAR will be implemented for all semi-final matches and for the final at Wembley Stadium. The EFL, external, is responsible for determining the use of VAR in Carabao Cup matches. Beyond deciding against using the technology, the EFL can also mandate that a club install the necessary systems at their stadium for a semi-final tie. Last year, VAR was not employed until the final because Middlesbrough, a Championship club, reached the final four and lacked the technology at their home ground. The EFL concluded it would be inequitable for the other semi-final match to use VAR under those circumstances. In matches up to and including the quarter-finals, no extra time is played. If a match concludes in a draw at full-time, the winner is determined by a penalty shootout. EFL clubs voted to eliminate extra time in the Carabao Cup prior to the 2018-19 season. For the second leg of the semi-final and the final, an additional thirty minutes of play will occur if the score remains level before proceeding to penalties. The victors of this season’s Carabao Cup will be awarded £100,000, while the runners-up will receive £50,000. Each semi-finalist will earn £25,000. Clubs also benefit from 45% of all match proceeds.