EFL player says 'I didn't know' after seeing new rule enforced in England for first time

Middlesbrough striker Will Lankshear admitted that he had no idea about the EFL's brand new rule during the Carabao Cup opening round.

There is now less than a week to go until the english football league finally returns with the first matches of the season kicking off across the country.

But before that, several clubs are set to compete in the opening round of the Carabao Cup this weekend, with clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two entering the competition.

West Ham United Burnley and Leicester City are among those in action in the opening round, with Walsall's 1-0 win over Bristol City on Thursday night the first result of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup.

On Friday night, Middlesbrough welcomed Wrexham to the Riverside Stadium for an all-championship clash that promised to be one of the most exciting fixtures of the opening round.

In the end, it was the hosts that came away with the win, with a goal from summer signing Lankshear, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur for an initial £10million, which could rise to a club-record £20m, securing the 1-0 victory.

But before netting the match-winning goal, Lankshear fell foul of new anti-time wasting rule recently introduced to the EFL.

Recently seen during 2026 FIFA World Cup, the law means players are now limited to how long they can take when coming off the pitch after being substituted out of a game.

Unfortunately for Lankshear, he overstayed his welcome when thanking fans as he came off the pitch in the 81st minute to a round of applause, with substitute Fin Cartwright his replacement.

Clearly aware of the rule, Boro manager Kim Hellberg was seen calling for his striker to hurry up and come off the pitch, but it was too late and the hosts were forced to play with only 10 men for a short period.

“I didn’t know!" a laughing Lankshear admitted after the match.

“I haven’t been in the referee meetings at the start of the year because I came from Tottenham.

“I now know to get off the pitch a lot quicker!”

Luckily for Boro and Lankshear, his well-meaning delay in coming off the pitch didn't cost them as they held on to the 1-0 lead and booked their spot in the second round.

READ MORE: The major EFL decision that has made the Football League calendar look very different this season

When do Premier League clubs enter the Carabao Cup?

Ahead of the conclusion of the first round on Monday evening, the second-round draw for Carabao Cup will take place at about 19:20 BST.

The draw will be shown live on Sky Sports ahead of the kick off the final first-round tie between League One side Plymouth Argyle and fierce rivals Exeter City, of League Two.

In total, 11 Premier League clubs will join the 35 first-round winners from across the English Football League in the second round, with the remaining nine sides joining in the third round.

Brentford, Chelsea, Fulham, Newcastle United, Everton, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City are the teams entering the second round.

Like the opening round, teams in the second round of the Carabao Cup will be regionalised and therefore split into northern and southern sections, with matches to be played in the week commencing Monday, 24 August.