Announced on Thursday, the Football Association revealed that FA Cup replays will be removed starting from the first round in the upcoming season. This decision comes as a result of an agreement reached with the Premier League.
Previously, replays were already eliminated from the fifth round onwards. The complete removal of replays was deemed necessary “in light of changes to the calendar driven by the expanded UEFA (European) competitions”.
With an additional 64 games in the Champions League set to cause strain on the schedule, all FA Cup rounds will now be scheduled on weekends. This includes the fifth round, which has been played midweek for the past five seasons.
During the weekends allocated for the fourth and fifth rounds as well as the quarter-finals, no Premier League matches will take place.
Teams from the third and fourth tiers of English football participate in the FA Cup starting from the first round, while Premier League and Championship clubs enter from the third round, following previous qualifying rounds.
This adjustment, part of a six-year agreement, will also see the elimination of the mid-season break from the calendar.
The Premier League will kick off the 2024/25 season in mid-August to allow players a consecutive three-week break, with consideration given to “expert advice from medical and technical departments”.
Historically, FA Cup replays have been financially beneficial for lower league clubs, with the ‘underdog’ team receiving added broadcast payments and increased gate revenues when playing against a major club.
Under the terms of the new agreement, the Premier League will allocate up to an additional £33 million ($41 million) for grassroots football.
The FA estimates that the deal will secure up to £133 million per season in funding by the 2025/26 campaign.
CEO of the FA, Mark Bullingham, emphasized the significance of the FA Cup, stating: “The FA Cup is our biggest asset and generates over 60 per cent of our revenue to invest into the game, so it is critical to secure a strong format for the future.
“This new agreement between The FA and the Premier League strengthens the FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar.”
Bullingham added: “The longer summer period also allows a much-needed player break before the start of the next season.”
Richard Masters, CEO of the Premier League, expressed mutual dedication to enhancing the scheduling of the FA Cup, a significant domestic competition with a rich history.
AFP