DON’T let anyone fool you – the magic of the FA Cup still exists.
Fixture congestion has been a hot topic in the English game for around a decade and the League Cup has seen extra time removed as a result.
Man City thumped Watford to win the 2018/19 FA CupCredit: AP:Associated Press
Replays are part and parcel of the FA Cup, which is the world’s oldest cup competition and was first played in 1871.
Are there replays in FA Cup 4th round?
ONE of the greatest pulls of the FA Cup has been it’s replay system.
Smaller clubs getting the chance to bring a top-flight side to their tiny grounds, or vice versa allowing non-league teams and their players a once-in-a-lifetime chance of playing on the biggest stage.
Replays didn’t always work as they do now in the FA Cup.
If a cup tie finishes in a draw, the game is replayed at the opposing ground at a later date.
Up until the 1990s, there were limitless replays until one of the two sides emerged victorious.
Gordon Strachan of Leeds during one of their four FA Cup ties with Arsenal in 1991Credit: Getty – Contributor
One of the last great examples was a titanic third round tussle between Leeds and Arsenal in 1991, with the teams needing FOUR matches over 20 days to eventually find a winner.
It’s all change now though and from last season, there are NO replays from the FA Cup fifth round onwards.
All rounds up to and including the fourth round WILL feature a replay if there is no winner in 90 minutes during the initial tie.
Should the replay finish in a draw, the game will then go to extra time and, if needed, penalties.
Currently there are no official plans to scrap replays entirely from the competition.
When will they be held?
THE draw has been made for the fourth round and ties are being played across weekend January 24-27.
Replay dates will be confirmed once all of the ties have been completed ahead of the fifth round draw.
Fifth round matches are scheduled this year for midweek in an effort to avoid clashing with EFL and Premier League matches at the weekend.
The schedule for the remainder of this year’s FA Cup looks like this:
- Fifth Round – Wednesday, March 4
- Quarter final – Saturday, March 21
- Semi final – Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19
- Final – Saturday, May 23
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
