FA Cup Replays Scrapped. Why?!
“The current format, which has no replays from the fifth round onwards, has been extended throughout the ‘Competition Proper’ in light of changes to the calendar driven by the expanded UEFA competitions,” the FA said.
Let’s take a closer look at how FA Cup replays have “affected” European competition over the last 10 years:
Starting with the 2013/14 season (purely so that Hull City would feature in this post) there have been 82 European campaigns by English teams. Of those teams, the number involved in an FA Cup replay was 20.
The Premier League “Big 6”
Of the so called “Big 6” only 10 times in ten years have they had a FA Cup replay in the same season as they competed in the Champions League. And 4 of those times it was Tottenham Hotspur.
In the last 4 seasons, only one of England’s entrants in the Champions League has been involved in an FA Cup replay. That was Liverpool in the 2022/23 third round when the beat Wolves 1-0 at Molineux after a 2-2 draw at Anfield. Both ties were played in January (7th & 17th) and they had already completed the Champions League Group Stage. They weren’t due to play Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 until 21st February.
Decisions Made by the Few Elite Clubs
Smaller clubs dream of making a run in the FA Cup, and the chance to earn a replay with a bigger team can sometimes literally be the difference between the club surviving or going under.
Why destroy the magic of the FA Cup? Smaller clubs live for the day they can feature on Match of The Day and have their plumbers, welders, and bin men become heroes.
The Statistics Don’t Lie
FA Cup replays for teams that compete in Europe have no impact on their European performance/success, especially as most Premier League teams send an under-21 squad for all FA Cup games.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below…