Chelsea's Carabao Cup rivals Barrow received four times as many bonuses for losing their third-round tie
Barrow players have reportedly been offered a larger bonus for losing rather than winning their Carabao Cup clash against Chelsea.
The League Two side beat Derby County in late August to earn a dream third-round tie away from home. Blues on September 24th.
As unlikely as it may seem, victory at Stamford Bridge will see them through to the fourth round of the competition for the first time in the club's history.
However, The telegraph have reported that they have seen Barrow's bonus programme and that players will win £1,000 each if they lose.
This is a staggering four times more than the £250 fee they will have to pay if they beat Chelsea.
Concerns about the integrity of the Carabao Cup They have been raised as a result of the club seemingly incentivising poor performance.
Although Barrow did not comment, club sources say the errors on the bonus sheet will be corrected.
The EFL is said to be “unimpressed” with the Bluebirds' plan and has demanded an explanation despite it not breaching its regulations.
Barrow spoke to the EFL and assured them that the scheme would be amended and that clubs' bonuses would have to be agreed with players at the start of the season before being sent to the EFL.
According to the Telegraph's report on club bonuses, each player earns £250 for every Carabao Cup win from the first to the fifth round.
However, a sum of £1,000 will be paid to each player if they lose to a Premier League opponent, starting from the third round.
Losing to a Championship club in the third round would also earn them £750, but even if Barrow won the Carabao Cup, each player would only earn £1,000.
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By comparison, its FA Cup bonus scheme allows players to pocket between £400 and £800 in the early rounds of the competition.
This increases to £2,625 each from the third round onwards, with defeats to Premier League and Championship sides awarded £1,000 and £750 respectively.
Chelsea currently sit 11th in the Premier League table, 60 places above third-placed League Two side Barrow in the English football pyramid.
The third round of the Carabao Cup kicks off on September 17, with holders Liverpool hosting West Ham eight days later.
League Two side AFC Wimbledon face Newcastle at home in another of the high-profile ties, with the fourth round getting underway at the end of October.
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