REPLAYS AXE LEAVES CLUBS & EFL FUMING
THE EFL and their clubs have hit out at the decision to scrap FA Cup replays from the first round onwards next season.
It was announced on Thursday the FA and Premier League had reached a new agreement – for a minimum of six years – which will ‘strengthen’ the Cup format.
The current arrangement, which has no replays from the fifth round onwards, has been extended throughout the ‘Competition Proper’ due to changes to the calendar driven by expanded UEFA competitions.
All rounds of the Cup will now be played on weekends, while the final will take place on a Saturday without Premier League fixtures.
In addition, the Premier League has agreed to increase funding to the football pyramid, providing up to an additional £33m for grassroots football on top of the £100m it currently gives to good causes each season.
However, the new agreement drew criticism from the EFL and the clubs who won’t have the chance to earn a lucrative replay windfall in future.
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: “Whilst the league had previously been involved in discussions over the future of the calendar, these were predicated on the agreement of a new financial deal with the Premier League for EFL clubs which has not progressed.
“This is frustrating and disappointing given the calendar is a shared asset across football and, as we have consistently said, a whole game approach is required to find solutions to complex fixture scheduling challenges. Our domestic calendar has been put under extreme pressure by the expansion of UEFA competitions and ultimately this represents another lost traditional revenue stream for E
