EFL

The English Football League has criticised the “undermining” of the Carabao Cup after it was forced to compromise on the date of Crystal Palace’s quarter-final because of fixture congestion.

Palace will now face Arsenal in the last eight at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, 23 December at 20:00 GMT.

The other three quarter-finals take place the previous week but the Eagles’ commitments in the Uefa Conference League – they host Finnish club KuPS at Selhurst Park on 18 December – has left them with four games in nine days.

Palace host Manchester City on 14 December and are away to Leeds on 21 December, either side of the KuPS game.

A statement from the EFL was critical of the “expansion of European cup competitions” which it believes was “implemented without adequate consultation with domestic leagues”.

The EFL said it had “shown a willingness to compromise” but scheduling conflicts are “now entirely unavoidable”.

“To continue making endless concessions only serves to undermine the reputation of the EFL Cup,” said the statement.

“It also challenges the traditional scheduling of the English football calendar and strength of our domestic game.”

Uefa’s European calendar now stretches across 10 midweeks, rather than the six of two seasons ago, with the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League each given a standalone week for exposure.

It has caused a huge logistical headache, with the third round of the EFL Cup having to be seeded and played across two weeks to keep clubs in the Champions League and Europa League apart.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner said last week it would be “irresponsible” if the club were forced to play two games in three days.

The EFL said it shared the “frustration and concern” of managers and players concerning the congested programme which deprived clubs of the “necessary time for preparation” and ability to “field their strongest line-ups” in the EFL Cup.

The Premier League recently blamed the increased number of European fixtures for there being just one game on 26 December in the English top flight.

Boxing Day fixtures have been a long-standing tradition in English football but this year the only Premier League game will be Manchester United’s home match with Newcastle United (20:00 GMT).

Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he has “no regrets” after making 10 changes to his team for their Carabao Cup fixture against Crystal Palace, a match they went on to lose 3-0 at Anfield.

READ MORE: Slot ‘making excuses’ – but should he have rested key players?

OSMAN FOYO has been handed a five-month suspension for 252 breaches of betting rules.

The AFC Wimbledon star admitted to the breaches and has also been handed a cash fine.

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Foyo, 21, made the bets on matches between October 2023 and March 2025

The FA confirmed his ban with a statement on social media.

It read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned AFC Wimbledon’s Osman Foyo for breaches of The FA’s betting rules.

“It was alleged that the player breached FA Rule E8 252 times by placing bets on football matches between 29 October 2023 and 28 March 2025, and Osman Foyo subsequently admitted the charge.

“The Regulatory Commission imposed a £1,000 fine and five-month suspension from all football and football-related activity following a hearing.

“One month will be served immediately, with the suspension running up to and including 2 November 2025, and four months are suspended until 2 April 2027 pending any further breaches of The FA’s betting rules.

“The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.”

More to follow…

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Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham will find out who they will play next when the fourth round draw is made at around 22:00 BST on Wednesday, following Arsenal’s televised third-round tie at Port Vale.

There are seven Premier League sides in the hat so far – Liverpool, Chelsea, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Fulham and Wolves – along with Wycombe Wanderers, of League One, and League Two club Grimsby Town, who knocked out Manchester United in round two.

As well as the Arsenal tie, Manchester City are in action on Wednesday at Huddersfield Town, while Newcastle United host Bradford City and Tottenham Hotspur are at home to Doncaster Rovers.

There is a decent chance, therefore, that Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham could face heavyweight opposition as they look to reach the quarter-finals.

There is also the possibility, of course, of a Carabao Cup Welsh derby.

Ange Postecoglou says his Nottingham Forest players got too “comfortable” after Championship side Swansea scored twice in stoppage time to knock them out of the Carabao Cup.

Two first-half goals from Igor Jesus had put the Premier League side firmly in control of their third-round tie.

However, a Cameron Burgess goal gave the Swans hope and, in a stunning finale, Zan Vipotnik levelled before Australia international Burgess scored his second to send the 2013 winners into the last 16.

“We had to finish them off and we had plenty of opportunities to do that, and a couple of decisions didn’t go our way,” said Forest boss Postecoglou.

“I think the lads got a bit comfortable in that moment and you’ve got to know the warning signs.

“Players just thought it would naturally finish that way and we’ve paid a heavy price for that. We need to improve.”

The former Spurs boss had promised this would be the night fans started to see his imprint on the side he inherited from Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground.

Instead, Forest conceded three for a second game in a row under Postecoglou, who added: “Tonight was a great opportunity for us to progress in a cup and give ourselves an opportunity to that success – and to let it slip is hugely disappointing.

“But it doesn’t change anything – we understand some of the things we have to work on.”

EFL fans have been left baffled over Portsmouth’s goalkeeper substitution.

Keeper Nicolas Schmid was forced off after suffering a first half injury.

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And he was replaced by deputy Ben Killip, with the pair sharing an embrace as they switched over.

It was an eye-cathcing sub as Schmid and Killip bore a striking similarity with one another.

They both have curly blond hair and beards, prompting confusion for viewers at home.

One reacted saying: “I swear Portsmouth just bought on a stunt double for their keeper. Absolute doppelganger.”

Another added: “Should have just swapped them at half time without anyone knowing.”

A third wrote: “Bit unfair cloning your starting GK, Pompey.”

And another commented: “Had me questioning my sanity.”

The incident took place during Portsmouth’s 0-0 draw with Southampton in the South Coast derby.

Shortly afterwards the match was interrupted by a pitch invader, who made it as far as the halfway line and appeared to gesture towards the away fans.

Saints also aimed a cheeky dig at their rivals by unveiling a provocative tifo before the match, showing James Beattie celebrating a goal against Pompey in 2003.

ANTHONY HARTIGAN was once taught a tough lesson at Wembley by Tottenham “beast” Victor Wanyama as a skinny 17-year-old.

But the Barnet captain is hoping to put that and all his EFL experience to good use as the Bees return to League Two on Saturday after a seven-year absence when they host Fleetwood.

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Hartigan, 25, clocked 118 appearances in League One for AFC Wimbledon and another 20 for Newport (on loan) and Mansfield in League Two before dropping into non-league with Barnet.

And he has also played at Wembley twice — including taking on Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs in 2018 with the Dons while their new stadium was being built.

He told SunSport: “We got drawn away against Tottenham in the FA Cup so I had a unique chance to play at Wembley. It was an incredible experience to take on Premier League stars live on TV.

“I was only 17 and it was my breakthrough year. I’d only made my senior debut that season so to be walking out under the arch alongside the likes of Harry Kane was surreal.

“Tottenham had a great team then. They also had Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jan Vertonghen, Kieran Trippier, Mousa Dembele, Son Heung-Min, Victor Wanyama, players like that.

“I was up against Alli and Wanyama. I’ve got a photo of me trying to get the ball off Wanyama, which is funny because I’m like a skinny little boy and he was just a beast! I didn’t stand a chance!

“Our manager Neal Ardley told us the next morning, ‘That’s the standard you must reach if you want to make it to the top.’

“They just do everything so well technically, tactically, physically and mentally. It’s frightening how big a gap it is from our level.”

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Hartigan was also on the losing side in the 2021 League Two play-off final with Newport when they were beaten after extra-time by Morecambe.

Not only was the day soiled by the result but the crowd number was limited to only 9,083 because of Covid restrictions.

Hartigan feels he has unfinished business in the EFL, having played regularly for the Dons.

But when he joined Mansfield three years ago, a shoulder injury wrecked his first season there before he was loaned for a year to Barnet, a move he made permanent last July.

However, he has found a home at the Hertfordshire club, starting 89 of his 90 league appearances — and winning the National League title in May.

Now he cannot wait to get his EFL career motoring again with the Bees.

He said: “I had a bit of bad luck going to Manfield. It was the right club for me at the wrong time — but Barnet has definitely proved to be the right team at the right time.

“I’ve excelled here because there are good people around me, I’m getting games under my belt again and the whole environment has been excellent.

“We don’t fear the jump into League Two because this team deserves to be here.

“On a personal level I want to reach the highest level I can and enjoy my football. I’m enjoying my journey with Barnet.”

Snoop Dogg told us long ago that he’s got his mind on his money and his money on his mind.

Now he’s got his mind on using some of that money to become the latest American celebrity to invest in an English Football League team.

On Thursday, Welsh club Swansea City announced that the hip-hop legend, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, is joining its ownership group. It was not disclosed what percentage of the club is now owned by Snoop Dogg or how much he invested in the team.

The announcement came days after the “Gin & Juice” rapper helped reveal Swansea City’s uniforms for the upcoming season by posing in the new home jersey in a video posted to Instagram.

“My love of football is well known, but it feels special to me that I make my move into club ownership with Swansea City,” Snoop Dogg said in a statement released Thursday by Swansea City. “The story of the club and the area really struck a chord with me. This is a proud, working class city and club. An underdog that bites back, just like me.

“I’m proud to be part of Swansea City. I am going to do all I can to help the club.”

Swansea City plays in the EFL Championship, the league’s second tier, which means Snoop Dogg’s team will be competing against the likes of Wrexham, which was famously purchased in 2020 by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, and Birmingham City, which boasts NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority owner.

Other famous Americans who own stakes in EFL teams include Lakers superstar LeBron James (Liverpool) and former NFL star J.J. Watt and his wife and former NWSL star Kealia Watt (Burnley).

Once a polarizing gangsta rapper and now a beloved pop culture icon, Snoop Dogg has expressed interest in owning a soccer team before. The “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper told the Daily Record in 2012 that he wouldn’t mind purchasing a stake in a specific Scottish club.

“I see how passionate Celtic fans are about their team,” Snoop Dogg said, “and I could see myself making an investment if any of the board wanted to sell.”

He added: “The boxes at Celtic would never be the same once I have hosted a party there.”

Now Snopp Dogg is finally a club owner, and Swansea City is happy to have him.

“To borrow a phrase from Snoop’s back catalogue, this announcement is the next episode for Swansea City as we seek to create new opportunities to boost the club’s reach and profile,” the club said in a statement.

“Snoop’s colossal global fanbase and audience will certainly help us do that, and he has made clear to us throughout this process just how excited he is at the prospect of joining the club. … We expect his involvement to support us putting as competitive a team as possible out on the field.”

FORMER League Two club Aldershot Town have released a statement amid concerns over the filing of their accounts to Companies House.

Aldershot, who finished 16th in the National League this season, are overdue for the publication of their accounts for the last financial year.

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The late publication of their accounts has led to the company being issued a notice for compulsory strike-off.

A strike-off notice, which removes a company from the official register, effectively means a company ceases to exist as a legal entity if followed through.

Aldershot are able to object to the strike-off and try and explain their situation to Companies House before the action is carried out against the business.

Aldershot fans have voiced their concern online around the emergence of a compulsory strike-off notice appearing on the club’s Companies House page, prompting a response from the club itself.

A statement issued on X by the club’s official account read: “The Club is aware of recent comments on social media regarding the delay in filing our annual accounts with Companies House.

“The Club want to reassure our supporters and stakeholders that there is no cause for concern.

“The delay, whilst regrettable, is administrative and the result of a migration to a new accounting system.

“The transition has taken longer and proved more challenging than anticipated, but our finance team is working closely with our auditors/accountants to finalise the accounts, which we expect to file within the next seven days.”

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Fans are still concerned by the situation with one supporter labelling it as “very strange”.

While a second wrote: “For full transparency, I think all of us fans would like to see how the accounts are doing”.

And a third added: “Well that eases no one’s mind…”

Aldershot won their first piece of silverware in nearly 20 years this season as they lifted the FA Trophy thanks to a 3-0 victory over Spennymoor Town at Wembley.

The Shots have been trying to make a return to the EFL since their relegation from League Two in 2013, but are resigned to a 13th consecutive National League season following their 16th placed finish this term.

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