Arsenal and Manchester City are not in any danger of being thrown out of the Carabao Cup after using two substitutes during extra time of their respective Carabao Cup fixtures.
It came after both clubs used a third and fourth substitute in their Carabao Cup ties on Tuesday, with the Gunners edging past Norwich 2-1 and City beating Wolverhampton Wanders on penalties after a 0-0 draw, with the Sun reporting Arsenal and Manchester City might face disqualification or a replay.
Also read: Florentino Perez responds to specualtion linking Tottenham star Harry Kane's to Real Madrid
The Carabao Cup is taking part in a trial of a proposed new law which allows an additional substitute in extra time. But no matter how many substitutions a club makes in the 90 minutes, they are still eligible to make a total of four substitutions for the entire game through to the end of extra time, as reported by ESPN.
Four subs are a novelty for cup ties this season but the rules imply only one can be used after 90 minutes. But both referees last night — Andy Madley at the Emirates and Kevin Friend at the Etihad — allowed the Premier League clubs to make two during the extra period.
Rule 10.2 of the Carabao Cup regulations states: "Where any match goes to extra time (in accordance with the provisions of Rules 14.4, 14.5 and/or 14.6), then subject to the League having obtained the prior approval of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to the application of this Rule, each Club participating in that match will be permitted to use an additional substitute (in extra time only)."
When asked if Arsenal's subs had been within the rules, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "Yes."
Norwich boss Daniel Farke added: "I think the rule has changed but it is complicated."
Norwich staff were talking about the rule after the game but Wolves, who held out for a 0-0 draw with City at the Etihad, were unaware of the possible probe.
In the last round of the competition, Bournemouth made two substitutes in extra time to take their total for the game to four, while Leeds made all four of their changes in this period in the same game.
It has been trialled in several competitions over the past 12 months, starting with the Club World Cup also including several UEFA and FIFA competitions, as well as the FA Cup and EFL knockout matches.
The very first time a fourth substitute was used, during Real Madrid's 4-2 Club World Cup final win over Kashima Antlers in December 2016, both clubs made multiple extra-time changes.
