Football News

The FA Cup will undergo the biggest shake-up in its history with ALL replays scrapped from next season.

It is certain to upset the traditionalists and fans of the world ’s oldest cup competition with it being described as a “final nail in the coffin” for the football pyramid. But Football Association chiefs have brokered a six-year agreement with the Premier League which will see:

It is impossible to quantify how much EFL clubs could earn from the scrapping of replays but FA chiefs do believe the fact ties now go straight to penalties mean teams set out to win the one-off games rather than play for a replay.

FA chiefs believe the extra cash is a huge boost for the grassroots game and the Cup has also been left squeezed by UEFA’s Champions League revamp which will lead to eight group matches rather than the current six.

Fair Game CEO Niall Couper said: “Scrapping FA Cup replays from the first round proper deprives lower league clubs of a much-needed source of revenue.

“This is a short-sighted move that does nothing to strengthen the game. It is another nail in the coffin for the already crumbling football pyramid.”

Nicola Palios, vice chair of Tranmere Rovers, said: “729 teams compete in the the FA Cup. Why is its format being dictated by the Premier League who represent about three per cent of them? Why were EFL clubs not given a say?

“ The FA and the Premier League have reached an agreement to suit themselves further at the expense of the rest of the football pyramid.”

But FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “The FA Cup is our biggest asset. 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

Mark Bullingham