FA, Premier League Agree To Scrap FA Cup Replays From 2024-25
The FA has declared that starting from the 2024-25 season, there will be no replays in the FA Cup proper as part of a fresh arrangement with the Premier League.
In the current FA Cup edition, all qualifying and main matches up to the fifth round included replays. However, many managers in the top flight, in particular, have expressed dissatisfaction with the prospect of adding another fixture to an already packed calendar.
Next year, the schedule is expected to become even more demanding for top-tier teams due to the expanded Champions League, which will feature 36 teams instead of 32, and the enlarged FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, comprising 32 teams.
While FA Cup replays have traditionally been regarded as crucial for lower-division teams for financial reasons, there has been growing support for eliminating them. The FA has now officially approved the elimination of replays as part of a new six-year agreement.
According to the announcement by the governing body, qualifying matches will still have replays, but matches from the first round onwards will be decided on the day with the inclusion of extra time and penalties if necessary.
The FA Cup final is scheduled to be held on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, a departure from its traditional position as the last fixture on the English football calendar. However, no Premier League matches will be played on that day.
Additionally, fourth round, fifth round, and quarter-final fixtures will be arranged independently of Premier League matches. These alterations were made by the FA “in response to changes in the calendar driven by the expanded UEFA competitions.”
Moreover, the mid-season winter break has been eliminated in favor of a more extended summer rest period, allowing players a full three weeks off, based on guidance from medical and technical experts.
Mark Bullingham, the chief executive of the FA, stated on the FA website: “The Emirates FA Cup is a cornerstone of our sport and generates over 60 per cent of our revenue, which is reinvested into football. Therefore, it is vital to establish a robust format for the future. This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and allocates exclusive weekends for this prestigious tournament in an increasingly crowded schedule.”
“The revised schedule ensures that the allure of the Cup remains intact and is even bolstered, benefiting the entirety of English football. The extended summer break also provides players with a much-needed rest before the commencement of the next season.”
Richard Masters, the chief executive of the Premier League, remarked: “Throughout our discussions, both parties have been dedicated to enhancing the scheduling of the Emirates FA Cup, a vital domestic competition with a rich history.
“The FA and the Premier League have collaborated to create more exclusive weekends without compromising the thrill of knockout football. This achievement has been attained while also addressing fixture congestion more broadly.”
The 2023-24 FA Cup finals are set to take place this weekend, with reigning champions Manchester City facing Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday, followed by Manchester United’s encounter with Championship side Coventry City on Sunday.
