FA Cup replays to be scrapped from next season The FA Cup will no longer have replays from the first round proper with fixtures now set to be played exclusively on weekends. The FA and the Premier League revealed they have reached a new agreement starting from next season for a minimum of six years to "strengthen" the competition with "new and exclusive calendar windows". As part of the changes, the competition will now be played without replays from the first round proper. The current format has no replays from the fifth round onwards. The fourth and fifth rounds plus the quarter-finals will be played without Premier League fixtures taking place on the same weekends. The fourth round will have an extended fixture window from Friday to Wednesday. The final will now take place on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, with no top-flight fixtures taking place on the same day or night before. The Premier League has also increased funding to the football pyramid, providing up to an additional £33m for grassroots football. The league will provide up to £133m per season from the 2025-26 season. The mid-season break has been removed from the calendar to allow- for a mid-August start date for the Premier League and a longer summer break Latest football news and gossip: FA Cup replays to be scrapped as new fixture format revealed | Football News | Sky Sports from the FA site New FA Cup format revealed for 2024-25 including calendar update and increased grassroots support (thefa.com)
Another part of the 'romance of the cup' gone, sadly. Little clubs getting a big payday or taking the big boys down to a non league ground are the best bits of it. Instead we'll now just get batterings at PL stadiums. Not much point doing home or away now.
Why is it an agreement between the FA and PL? Only 20 PL teams compete in the FA Cup whereas hundreds of EFL/non league teams do. Disgrace. The FA need to get a grip and stop catering to the PL just because a few of them threaten to leave. Let them leave nobody will care.
The FA again showing they're not fit for purpose.....the Premier League run the game in England.....and they wonder why there's going to be an independent regulator! Bunch of clowns.
Lost interest in the tournament when the semis started to be played at Wembley. Instantly destroyed the magic of the cup for greed.
Not so much greed marra....more necessity, to generate as much income as they could to try to pay off the outstanding,unaffordable borrowing they'd previously entered into. As I said earlier, bunch of clowns.
A few years back when we got to the pizza cup final and playoff final (lost both), I struggled with the cost of going down for both as did others I think, FA cup would be even worse. National stadium should be in the middle of the country really, like St Georges park is.
Premier league teams were upset having to go to replays and add an extra game to their calander. The big teams were even more upset because its the second least important trophy to them but they can't not go for it cause what if they fail to win anything else?
Tranmere Rovers condemn the disgraceful decision taken by The FA and the Premier League to change the format of the FA Cup, including the scrapping of replays. There was no consultation with Football League clubs, National League clubs or grassroots clubs to whom the competition represents not only their best opportunity to create life-long memories for supporters but also a hugely important source of income. We also understand that FA Council members were not consulted about the changes. The decision, and the way it was taken, demonstrate a total lack of respect for the football pyramid and its fans. Football belongs to all of us and decisions should not be taken in back room deals in which only the very wealthiest clubs are allowed to participate. It is yet another eloquent example of the 19th-century governance that means that football simply cannot regulate itself and needs the Independent Football Regulator to have real teeth. We condemn the changes wholeheartedly and urge The FA to suspend them immediately until all stakeholders in the game are properly consulted. well said Tranmere Rovers
