FA Cup Replays Face the Axe Despite EFL Concerns
The Football Association (FA) is pushing ahead with plans to scrap FA Cup replays from the third round onwards next season.
This move comes despite the recent collapse of the “New Deal for Football” agreement, which aimed to address financial imbalances between Premier League and EFL clubs.
The decision is likely to be met with strong opposition from the EFL, who may now withdraw their offer to scrap two-legged Carabao Cup semi-finals.
The FA, however, remains focused on easing fixture congestion, which replays contribute to.
This change significantly impacts lower-division clubs, who rely on the financial boost provided by televised replays in the third and fourth rounds.
These replays generate £40,000 and £55,000 respectively for each participating club, on top of a 45% share of gate receipts.
The move highlights the ongoing tension between competition schedules and financial considerations within English football