Checkatrade trophy to act as standalone competition
The EFL has confirmed the inaugural Checkatrade Trophy will work as a standalone competition for disciplinary purposes.
Players who are currently serving, or have been levied with, Premier League or EFL suspensions will be eligible for the competition, which starts this week with the first set of group matches.
A total of 16 Category One teams who opted in to play within this trophy are joining the 48 clubs from League One and League Two, with the EFL clubs having to field a minimum of five first-team players and the invited clubs from the Premier League and Championship fielding at least six U21s in their respective starting XIs.
The new rules come into force straight away and also mean cautions and red cards earned in the competition will not apply for EFL or Premier League fixtures.
EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "Any standard sanction arising from offences committed in Checkatrade Trophy fixtures will be served within the tournament.
ZT