Monday 21 August 2017 16:16, UK
The English Football League has defended the decision to stage the third-round draw for the Carabao Cup at 4.15am BST.
The move is being to help publicise the competition in China, with the draw being held in Beijing at 11.15am on Thursday.
The third round will see the entry of the seven Premier League teams involved in Europe this season into the competition, including holders Manchester United.
The second-round fixtures take place on Tuesday and Wednesday to determine the remaining 25 teams who will be in the hat for Thursday's draw.
The first-round draw was held in Thailand, where the maker of energy drink Carabao is based, with the EFL determined to boost the competition's profile in south-east Asia.
An EFL spokesman said: "We understand that not everyone will agree on the timing of this week's Round Three Draw, but in staging in this way it will give the competition both the maximum exposure in the UK, Chinese and South East Asian markets. This is not only an important factor for the EFL but also our new sponsors Carabao, who, like ourselves, plan to use the growing global appeal of the competition to reach new audiences.
"Once the logistics have been completed in Beijing, the UK will be waking up and the breakfast media will be able to report and get reaction on the 16 ties that will take place next month, which we feel is an interesting move away from the usual post-game evening draws.
"The Round Three draw itself is not being televised live in China or anywhere else but the EFL will be providing full coverage across its Carabao Cup twitter feed, with news and reaction as it happens.
"Our decision to go to China is part of a strategic plan to grow the EFL internationally and specifically boost profile and exposure in ASEAN markets. A number of potentially significant meetings are being held around the draw that we envisage will deliver a benefit to all 72 Clubs of the EFL.
"As part of those meetings the EFL will stage its first summit in Asia, where potential sponsors and investors from the region will gather to be briefed on the wider opportunities the EFL can provide. This will include the showcasing of the new iFollow international streaming platform which successfully launched at the start of the season.
"We now look forward to this work developing over the course of the next few days and taking further shape in the coming weeks and months."
