‘This is so unfair on the smaller clubs’.
The decision to scrap FA Cup replays from next season has been slammed by fans online.
The move was announced earlier today as part of a new six-year agreement between the Football Association (FA) and the Premier League.
In its current guise, there are no replays from the fifth round onwards. However, from the 2024/25 season, this will be extended throughout the ‘Competition Proper.’
The move is in response to changes to the wider football calendar, driven by the expansion of UEFA competitions such as the Champions League.
Other changes for the 2024/25 tournament include all of the rounds played on weekends. This will include the fifth round, which has been played in midweek in recent seasons.
Meanwhile, there will be no Premier League fixtures on the weekends of the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, This is the first time this will be the case.
The fourth round will also run from Friday to Wednesday to “allow fans to watch consecutive days of Emirates FA Cup football.”
The FA Cup final has also been moved to the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season. The showpiece event will be played on a Saturday, with no Premier League fixtures to be played on this day or the day before.
Since the decision was announced to scrap replays, fans online have slammed the move, saying that it’s unfair on smaller clubs.
Taking to X, one person wrote: “So more midweek Premier League games and no replays which impacts the lower league clubs, so unfair!!”
Another commented: “Having played in the competition over the years, I’ve seen first hand how transformative a cup run can be for lower league sides. Yes, the number of games for top sides is unsustainable but taking replays away from lower league sides is unfair. Football is a mess.”
A third wrote: “It’s completely unfair on lower league clubs who can actually earn some substantial money from earning replays away at big teams.
“This change only has the prem in mind and doesn’t care for the roots of the game, it’s appalling.”
The Premier League has also announced it is scrapping its mid-season break from the calendar.
Premier League players will instead have a consecutive three-week summer break, which has been decided following “expert advice from medical and technical departments.”
The FA and Premier League said the expert advice “values a longer period of complete rest in the summer rather than a short break in the winter.”
The Premier League has also agreed to provide an additional £33m in funds to the grassroots game as part of the agreement.
“The FA Cup is our biggest asset,” said FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.
“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.
“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.”
Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, added: “The Premier League is proud of the investment it provides to all levels of the game and this new agreement with the FA will see us enhance our support into grassroots football. This will improve facilities for communities and lower league clubs across the country, through the Football Foundation and Premier League Stadium Fund.
“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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