JUST-IN: FA Cup replays cancelled for 2020-21 season
FA Cup replays have been cancelled from every round of the competition next season to allow games to be decided.
Ties will all be decided in one day from the extra preliminary round on September 1 right through to the final on May 15.
FA bosses have been forced to make the unprecedented change in order to cram their competition into what is fast becoming a crazily-packed fixture programme.
The qualifying rounds will be resolved by the end of October, before the first round proper sees teams from Leagues One and Two enter the tournament on November 7.
The full FA Cup 2020/21 fixture dates have been released.
There will be no replays in any rounds during this season’s tournament. pic.twitter.com/0RcJYgIeeE
— Ollie Bayliss (@Ollie_Bayliss) August 13, 2020
Third-round ties will be played on or around January 9. That is the stage where Premier League and Championship sides join the competition.
Last season, replays were scrapped from the fifth round onwards, with Spurs’ 3-2 win over Southampton on February 5 the last one of the 2019/20 FA Cup.
Arsenal lifted the trophy for a record-extending 14th time, beating Chelsea in the final on August 1.
Teams throughout the leagues are facing major problems getting their games played.
The first four rounds of the Carabao Cup now confirmed to be crammed into September.
Round one, involving EFL sides, will be played on September 5.
That is just one week before the league campaigns are due to kick-off.
OFFICIAL: The FA have confirmed there will be no replays for the 2020-21 FA Cup season.
The final is scheduled to take place Saturday 15th May 2021. pic.twitter.com/0MPQAyNOjT
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) August 13, 2020
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Then rounds two, three and four will be staged each midweek from September 15/16.
Premier League sides enter the tournament in the second round, except for those involved in European competitions who come in a round later.