English football’s decision to scrap FA Cup replays as part of a huge shake-up of the calendar came ‘out of the blue’, according to one owner of a lower league club, while another has called for ‘protest’ at the changes.
A new agreement between The FA and the Premier League, which will last for at least six years, sees the end of the season’s winter break, and the return of all FA Cup rounds to weekends, as opposed to the midweek games in round five that has been standard in recent years.
However, there will no longer be FA Cup replays from the first round proper onwards – ending a tradition that has gone back decades, with the 92 league clubs now avoiding additional games at the end of draws.
However, senior staff at two League Two clubs have suggested that there was no consultation with them regarding the news of the pact between the top-flight and the sport’s governing body.
Andy Holt, the chairman of League Two Accrington Stanley, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘Why would the hapless @FA scrap early round replays that can be lucrative to minnows? A chance to change their financial fortunes? Against @EFL clubs?
The Premier League and The FA have agreed to scrap Cup replays from the First Round Proper
Andy Holt, the chairman of League Two Accrington Stanley, said the news was ‘out of the blue’
Holt posted to X (formerly Twitter) on his surprise and anger at Thursday’s unexpected news
‘I expect nothing less of Masters and Co @premierleague buying the game into a format that suits their needs. As usual.’
When asked if Football League clubs had been consulted about the changes, Holt replied: ‘This bit of the EFL definitely wasn’t. When deals are done under a cloak of secrecy they are generally wrong.’
He added: ‘The @EFL are 72 clubs, nothing else. Nobody at our club including someone actively involved with the @FA knew anything about this.
‘We should be actively supporting minnows not taking opportunity away. I’d also support them choosing to play away if it earned them more income.’
He said that Thursday’s news came ‘Out of the blue.’
Nicola Palios, the vice chairman of League Two Tranmere Rovers, wrote on X: ‘729 teams compete in the @TheFACup. Why is its format being dictated by the @premierleague who represent c.3% of them?
‘Why were @EFL clubs not given a say? Why is the EPL even dictating whether replays are allowed in rounds they don’t participate in? Protest is needed! #FACup’
Tranmere’s Nicola Palios, right, has suggested that ‘protest’ may be required over the new deal
She questioned why the Premier League made changes in cup rounds that didn’t affect them
There are currently no replays from the fifth round of the competition onwards, but that will change, reportedly owing to the expansion of the Champions League.
Other fans took to social media to express their dissatisfaction at the end of the replay for major clubs – and how it appears to have been agreed with only a small number of the teams who compete for the famous trophy.
On the deal between The FA and the Premier League, one fan wrote: ‘732 teams compete in the FA Cup. Not 20!’
There was also concern that the tournament was focusing too much on the major teams, and drifting from the smaller teams that make the FA Cup so memorable.
They said: ‘This makes me really sad. The early rounds of the FA Cup should belong to the minnows, but this decision hands it to the elite. Such a shame.’
Another added: ‘The scrapping of replays from the First Round Proper is patently a disgrace.
‘There are 732 teams that compete in the FA Cup. I’d like to see the consultation with non-League, @WeAreTheFSA and all other stakeholders.
‘To see the FA agree to this in its own competition is rank.’
The tournament’s rich history has been called into question with the latest proposals – although it has survived previous changes during the past 150 years.
‘This is an absolute disgrace. The world’s oldest and greatest cup competition becoming a lot less great, purely to satisfy the rich at the very top’, wrote another angry football fan.
‘The exact opposite of the democracy that has made the competition make millions fall in love with football for over 150 years.’
Fans also took to social media to slam the decision to cancel replays in the FA Cup in future
The FA Cup final will be held on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season
While The FA Cup account said it would bolster the tournament, another said: ‘”Strengthen the format” is management speak for scrapping all replays from the first round onwards to allow the elite to make more money.’
This season’s FA Cup semi-finals take place this weekend, with Chelsea and Man City coming head-to-head before Manchester United play Championship Coventry on Sunday.
While this year’s showpiece comes after the Premier League season finishes, this will change from next season.
The FA Cup final will now be held on the weekend before the final gameweek of the league season, with a round of Premier League games to finish the English calendar.
