FA Cup Replays to be Eliminated from First Round Onwards in 2024-25 Competition
The Football Association (FA) has announced significant changes to the format of the Emirates FA Cup for the upcoming 2024-25 season. One of the key changes is the elimination of FA Cup replays from the first round onwards, a decision made as part of a new six-year agreement between the FA and the Premier League.
In addition to scrapping replays, all rounds of the FA Cup, including the fifth round, will now be played on weekends.
This change marks a departure from the previous practice of playing the fifth round in midweek, a format that has been in place for the past five seasons.
The decision to remove replays from earlier rounds was influenced by changes in the football calendar, particularly the expansion of UEFA competitions such as the Europa Conference League and the increase in teams participating in the Champions League group stage from 32 to 36 teams. FIFA’s announcement of an expanded 32-team Club World Cup for 2025 also played a role in shaping the new FA Cup format.
While replays will no longer be part of the first round onwards, the FA Cup qualifying rounds, where teams from the fifth to the 10th tiers of English football compete for spots in the first round, will still have replays if ties are level after 90 minutes.
The decision to eliminate replays from the first round has received mixed reactions. EFL chief executive Trevor Birch expressed disappointment, noting that this change represents a lost revenue stream for EFL clubs, especially at a time when financial disparities between clubs are widening.
On the other hand, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham emphasized the importance of the FA Cup and highlighted the strengthening of the tournament through the new agreement with the Premier League. The FA Cup final has also been rescheduled to avoid clashing with Premier League fixtures, with an extended window for the fourth round and other adjustments aimed at enhancing the competition’s profile.
However, reactions from some football figures, such as Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder and Tranmere Rovers vice-chair Nicola Palios, reflect concerns about the impact of these changes on lower league clubs and the broader football pyramid.
The Professional Footballers’ Association and Fair Game also raised issues regarding the collective approach to the global fixture calendar and the potential consequences of the decision on lower league clubs’ revenue and the overall strength of the game.
The new FA Cup format aims to strike a balance between tradition and modernization while addressing the evolving landscape of European and global football competitions.
Source: BBC
