After Sky Sports chose Fulham v Chelsea for live Premier League broadcast on Monday, 24 August, the potential for a knock-on impact was clear.
With the two teams not in Europe, and thus entering the Carabao Cup in the second round, both faced playing two games in the midweek.
Ordinarily, that should mean the EFL Cup ties would be played on the Thursday, with 72 hours’ rest.
That, too, would impact the Premier League’s weekend schedule.
Fulham’s match at Sunderland, which was not selected for TV broadcast, was switched to the Sunday.
Chelsea v Brighton, meanwhile, was chosen by Sky for the Sunday.
All good so far.
That was until both Fulham and Chelsea were drawn at home in the Carabao Cup – and they are not supposed to play at home on the same day. The police will have to make a concession, or the EFL will have to get creative.
But there is another knock-on effect – at very short notice for eight EFL clubs.
The opponents of Fulham and Chelsea – Wimbledon and Luton respectively – are in League One action on the Saturday after the ties.
If one or both Carabao Cup ties are scheduled for the Thursday, then the Saturday games would ordinarily move to the Sunday.
And there’s another complication.
The following Tuesday there is a full programme of League One games – and that could impact a further four matches with the potential they might have to move to Wednesday.
Either teams will have to play two games within 48 hours, or supporters who have made travel arrangements are going to find games displaced.
The games potentially impacted are as follows.
Saturday, 29 August
Wimbledon v Wigan
Mansfield v Luton
Tuesday, 1 September
Burton v Wimbledon
Wigan v MK Dons
Luton v Stockport
Reading v Mansfield