FA Cup replays have been scrapped this season to help ease the fixture congestion many clubs are facing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Typically the FA Cup would have replays if the first match is drawn after 90 minutes, often providing lower-league clubs with a lucrative second outing should it be broadcast on television, while there may also be the further bonus of travelling to an opponent with a larger stadium given gate receipts are split evenly between clubs.
However, this season there are no replays, with ties being decided in one match and heading to extra-time and then penalties if the teams are still drawing.
At the start of the season, the FA took this decision to ease the pressure on the 2020-21 calendar, especially as the previous season only finished in August for some Premier League clubs before the new campaign started up in September.
FA statement
“In order to assist in easing pressure on the football schedule, there will be no replays for the 2020-21 season.”
Given the Covid-19 pandemic has led to postponements across the divisions in England, scrapping replays appears to be a favourable move given clubs throughout the tiers, including Aston Villa, Rotherham United, Accrington Stanley and Carlisle United, have suffered coronavirus outbreaks and as a result are playing catch-up with league fixtures.
The aim to ease fixture congestion also prompted the FA to make the Carabao Cup semi-finals single matches as opposed to the usual two-legged affairs, with Manchester City and Tottenham progressing to the final after wins over Manchester United and Brentford respectively.
The FA Cup third-round replays that weren’t
The FA Cup third round featured 32 matches, and seven of those ties were all square after 90 minutes.
Arsenal, Fulham, Everton and Cheltenham Town all progressed with wins after extra-time, in matches that would have otherwise been replayed, while Brighton, Blackpool and Burnley all won penalty shootouts to reach the fourth round.
Remaining FA Cup 2021 schedule
- Fourth round: 22-25 January
- Fifth round: Wednesday 10 February
- Quarter-finals: Weekend of 20-21 March
- Semi-finals: Weekend of 17-18 April
- Final: Saturday 15 May
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/36192pa
Post a Comment