Reports indicate that the Football Association (FA) is considering eliminating FA Cup replays from the third round onward, starting next season. This proposal, which aims to streamline the competition, could significantly impact lower league clubs that often benefit financially from replays.
Previously, replays were removed from the fifth round forward, allowing lower-tier teams to potentially earn from third and fourth-round replays. These matches can generate substantial revenue, with televised replays bringing in around £40,000 to £55,000, plus an equal share of gate receipts for the clubs involved.
This development follows the rejection by ten Premier League clubs of a proposed £900 million financial support package for the lower leagues. In response, the English Football League (EFL) may retract their proposal to eliminate the two-legged format of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
The Premier League’s concern over fixture congestion has been a driving force behind these changes, especially with the Champions League expanding to 36 teams, reducing the availability of mid-week slots for domestic replays.
The Champions League’s new format will abandon the traditional group stage in favor of a ‘league’ system, where each team plays eight matches against seeded opponents, ensuring a balance of competition. This format will be adopted across all three UEFA European competitions, with the Conference League having six matches instead of eight.
In the Champions League, the top eight teams from the league phase will directly advance to the last 16, while the rest will enter play-offs to fill the remaining knockout stage spots. Despite only eight matches in the initial phase, the European fixtures will occupy ten midweek slots.