FA Cup Replays Ditched In Tournament Revamp
The Football Association (FA) and Premier League have revealed all FA Cup replays will be scrapped as part of a revamped structure for the domestic knockout tournament.
As per the six-year agreement running from the 2024/25 season, all FA Cup fixtures will take place on weekends, including the fifth round, which has been played during the week for the last five years.
In its current format, the FA Cup has no replays beyond the fifth round of the 153-year-old competition.
As per the agreement, from 2025/26, the Premier League is set to increase its investment into the English football pyramid, raising its annual funding from £100m to £133m.
England’s top-flight will increase funding into the Football Foundation, as well as the Premier League Stadium Fund, in order to help lower league clubs enhance their team infrastructures.
Further changes to the FA Cup format will see the fourth and fifth rounds, as well as quarter final stages scheduled on days exclusive of any Premier League matches, in order to prevent potential scheduling clashes.
From next year, the FA Cup final will be staged on the penultimate weekend of the Premier league season, taking place on a Saturday without English top-tier games.
Mark Bullingham, CEO of the FA, said, “This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar.
“The new schedule ensures the magic of the Cup is protected and enhanced, while working for the whole of the English game. The longer summer period also allows a much-needed player break before the start of the next season.
“We have also agreed new funding for the grassroots game, disability football and the women’s and girls’ game. All football begins at the grassroots, and this is recognised by the Premier League with very welcome additional financial support.”
Richard Masters, CEO of the Premier League, added, “Throughout our discussions, both parties have been committed to enhancing the scheduling of the Emirates FA Cup, a hugely important domestic competition with a storied history.
“The FA and the Premier League have worked in partnership to deliver more exclusive weekends without compromising the excitement of knockout football and this has been achieved at the same time as allowing us to ease fixture congestion generally.”
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