Barrow players have reportedly been offered a larger bonus to lose rather than win their Carabao Cup clash against Chelsea.
The League Two outfit beat Derby County at the end of August to earn a dream third round tie away at the Blues on September 24.
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Despite its unlikeliness, victory at Stamford Bridge will take them into the fourth round of the competition for the first in the club’s history.
However, The Telegraph have reported that they have seen Barrow’s bonus schedule and players will each earn £1,000 if they lose.
This is surprisingly four times more than the £250 fee they will be set to pocket should they beat Chelsea.
Concerns over the integrity of the Carabao Cup have been raised as a result due to the club seemingly incentivising a poor performance.
Although Barrow did not comment, sources at the club claim that the bonus sheet’s errors will be corrected.
The EFL [English Football League] are said to be ‘unimpressed’ with the Bluebirds’ scheme and have asked for an explanation despite it not breaching their regulations.
Barrow have spoken to the EFL and reassured them that the scheme would be altered, with club bonuses having to be agreed with the players by the beginning of the season before being sent to the EFL.
As per the club’s bonuses from the Telegraph’s report, each player earns £250 for every Carabao Cup win from rounds one to five.
However, a sum of £1,000 is paid to each player should they fall to defeat against Premier League opposition, starting from round three.
Losing to a Championship club in the third round would also see them pocket £750, but even if Barrow went on to win the Carabao Cup, each player would earn just £1,000.
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In comparison, their bonus scheme for the FA Cup sees players pocket between £400 and £800 in the opening rounds of the competition.
This rises to £2,625 each from the third round onwards, with defeats to Premier League and Championship teams sitting at bonuses of £1,000 and £750 respectively.
Chelsea currently sit 11th in the Premier League table, 60 positions above League Two’s third-place Barrow in the English football pyramid.
The Carabao Cup third round kicks off on September 17, with reigning champions Liverpool hosting West Ham eight days later.
League Two AFC Wimbledon face Newcastle at home in one of the other notable ties, with the fourth round commencing at the end of October.
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