The FA agreed to review the format of the FA Cup in a bid to secure the future of the competition, eliminating replays (starting with the first round proper) and leaving the final as the traditional season finale. .
As a result of lengthy negotiations between the FA and the first division The new deal will see the latter increase funding for the football and grassroots pyramid by £33m per season. There will also be knock-on effects across the domestic calendar with a longer gap between seasons and the end of the top flight's recently introduced winter break.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said the deal “strengthens” the FA Cup, a key revenue driver for the organization. “The FA Cup is our biggest asset, generating over 60% of our revenue to invest in the game, so securing a strong format for the future is vital,” he said. “The new calendar ensures the magic of the cup is protected and enhanced, while also working for all of English football.”
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Traditionally, Cup replays have been seen as an opportunity for smaller clubs to earn substantial additional income. League Two side Newport County, who had a fourth round replay at Wembley against Tottenham in 2017, saw their turnover rise by almost £1m that season, enough to drag the club into a profit. The new changes mean there will be no replays, and all games will go to extra time and then penalties.
The Premier League will now contribute additional money to the Football Foundation, which supports the grassroots game, as well as the Premier League Stadium Fund, which can be accessed by non-league teams and the EFL to make improvements to the stadium. infrastructure. The Premier League will also change its calendar to ensure that league matches are no longer scheduled at the same time as FA Cup fifth round and quarter-final matches. The fourth round, meanwhile, will be played over six days, from Friday to Wednesday, “to allow fans to watch consecutive days of FA Cup football,” according to the FA.
The Cup Final will be moved from its traditional location the weekend following the final match of the Premier League season to the weekend of the penultimate round of matches. The FA has agreed that the Cup final will be played on Saturday, with no Premier League matches that day or the Friday before, although a full round of top-flight matches will be played on Sunday.
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Changes to the FA Cup schedule mean the current winter break staggered around the fourth round will come to an end. The FA says the change also allows for a later start to the league season, which, as well as bringing the final forward, means a long summer holiday for players. “This longer summer break allows all Premier League clubs to be better placed to ensure players have a consecutive three-week break over the summer,” the FA said. “This takes into account expert advice from the medical and technical departments, who value a longer period of complete rest in summer rather than a short break in winter.”
