The Football Association (FA) of England has defended its decision to abolish replays in FA Cup matches, sparking disagreement with the English Football League (EFL). The move comes after the FA announced that replays for drawn matches would no longer be held beyond the fourth round of the competition.
Historically, matches in the knockout stages that ended in draws were replayed, with the away team hosting the replay. However, this season marked a significant change as the FA cited the need to strengthen competitions and prioritize player welfare amidst a tighter schedule.
\"Removing Emirates FA Cup replays was discussed in the early meetings and all parties accepted that they could not continue,\" the FA stated. \"The discussions then focused on how to make all of our competitions stronger, despite having fewer dates available and wanting to maintain player welfare.\"
The abolition of first-round replays was officially announced on Thursday, leading EFL's chief executive, Trevor Birch, to label the decision as \"frustrating and disappointing.\" Multiple EFL clubs, along with the National League and grassroots stakeholders, have expressed that they were not consulted during the decision-making process.
In response, the FA emphasized that the calendar for the upcoming season was approved by the Professional Game Board, consisting of EFL and Premier League representatives, and subsequently by the FA Board, which includes broader representation from various football stakeholders. \"This is the process we undergo every year to approve the calendar,\" the FA added.
The disagreement underscores the ongoing challenges in balancing competition integrity, scheduling, and the interests of different tiers within English football.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
