The FA Cup third round is just around the corner, which means that dreaded replays will be on the minds of all the teams set to enter at this stage of the competition.
With Premier League and Championship sides preparing to join one of the most iconic cup competitions in the world, the last thing any of them need is more games.
Replays can get frustrating, especially if they have to be played after every round. However, that won’t be the case this season.
What are the FA Cup replay rules for the 2023/24 season?
Every stage of the FA Cup up until this point has incorporated replays.
For many lower-league and non-league sides, replays are a crucial source of income, especially if their game is selected for TV coverage.
However, due to the increased workload on the players at the top of the game, the replay rules do change.
From the fifth round onwards, there are no replays, meaning games that are level after 90 minutes go to extra-time and penalties. But the third and fourth rounds still have replays.
This is likely to be the last season of replays, with major changes planned.
The 2024/25 season could see replays in all rounds scrapped, while some of the games could be moved to midweek to accommodate the Premier League schedule.
The FA are yet to confirm any of this, but it seems unlikely the FA Cup will continue in its current format.
