Fans accuse Carabao Cup draw of being fixed after Manchester City drawn with Bradford
Supporters criticised the live Sky Sports draw after Manchester City were paired with third‑tier Bradford; organisers say there is no proof of tampering.
Fans in England have accused the organisers of the Carabao Cup draw of being fixed after Manchester City were paired with third‑division Bradford in the quarter-finals.
On social media supporters expressed frustration that the Citizens again received a relatively favourable opponent, noting that Liverpool were drawn against Bournemouth. Some comments referenced the club's ongoing financial controversies — one sarcastic line argued that the club would need "115 financial charges" more to explain such a draw.
Live draw and reactions
The draw was broadcast live on Sky Sports, with Conor Coady and Graham Le Saux handling the balls on camera. Despite the speculation on social platforms, there is no evidence of any manipulation of the draw.
Manchester City reached the last eight after Brighton were eliminated on penalties, while Bradford advanced with a 2-0 win over Peterborough. Liverpool also progressed on penalties against Chelsea. The previous round produced the biggest surprise when Arsenal were knocked out by fourth‑tier Fleetwood Town.
These are the quarter‑final pairings (matches scheduled for 14 December):
- Manchester City – Bradford
- Crystal Palace – Sunderland
- Liverpool – Bournemouth
- Fleetwood – Newcastle/Everton
Supporters’ suspicions are fuelled by the perceived ease of Manchester City's draw and by wider controversies involving the club, but organisers have not reported any irregularities and the competition will move forward as planned.
Photo: press material from the event
