Scrapping of FA Cup replays sparks calls for EFL clubs to be compensated

FA Cup replays are being scrapped next season, ending 150 years of tradition and sparking calls for EFL clubs to be compensated for lost revenue.

The Football Association announced the format change on Thursday morning as it confirmed a new agreement with the Premier League which will increase funding to the grassroots game by up to an extra £33million per season.

The FA’s chief executive Mark Bullingham said the new format – which includes fifth-round ties reverting to weekends after five seasons in midweek, and the final being played on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season – would strengthen the FA Cup.

Changes to the domestic calendar were inevitable given the expansion of the Champions League from next season, and although replays’ days have appeared numbered for some time, a Football Supporters’ Association poll last summer found 69.5 per cent of fans still saw them as an important part of the FA Cup.

The FSA has relayed the “serious concerns” of fans about the loss of replays to the FA, while the EFL expressed frustration and disappointment over how it has felt sidelined on the detail around such a pivotal calendar decision affecting its clubs, particularly since talks over its own financial settlement with the Premier League stalled earlier this year.

The EFL will now seek to discuss the mechanisms within the new agreement to ensure its clubs do not lose out financially from the loss of replays.

The FA’s statement said the Professional Game Board – which includes four EFL representatives including its chairman Rick Parry – had approved the overall calendar for next season containing the changes.

Sources close to the EFL insist that although there was broad agreement on the calendar at the Professional Game Board level, the EFL had not been privy to discussions around the mechanisms to ensure the changes did not cause its clubs financial detriment.

The sources also insisted it was not true that the EFL’s own board had approved the changes, only that it had been appraised of what was discussed at the Professional Game Board. The timing and content of Thursday’s announcement is understood to have taken the EFL and its clubs by surprise.

The FSA, which has held regular meetings with the FA over the cup’s format, said: “It’s clear today’s announcement about the FA Cup has not gone down well with a lot of fans up and down the country.

“Supporters are concerned that the changes to the FA Cup will further diminish what makes the competition enduringly popular – namely its history, heritage and tradition.

“While we recognise the footballing calendar is coming under impossible strain – due to the increasing bloat of FIFA and UEFA competitions – recent surveys of both our members and National Council revealed serious concerns about loss of replays and the impact that could have on the magic of the competition.

“The FA Cup is the oldest domestic cup competition in the world, an asset of national importance, and we have shared those concerns with the FA as its primary custodians.”

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: “Whilst the league had previously been involved in discussions over the future of the calendar, these were predicated on the agreement of a new financial deal with the Premier League for EFL clubs which has not progressed.

“This is frustrating and disappointing given the calendar is a shared asset across football and as we have consistently said a whole game approach is required to find solutions to complex fixture scheduling challenges.

“Our domestic calendar has been put under extreme pressure by the expansion of UEFA competitions and ultimately this represents another lost traditional revenue stream for EFL clubs at a time when the financial gap between the biggest clubs and those further down the pyramid is growing bigger than ever.

“We will now be discussing the implications for EFL clubs and seeking appropriate compensation arrangements.”

The EFL announced on January 24 that it would not make any changes to the format of next season’s Carabao Cup until a new financial deal had been agreed. That leaves open the strong possibility of clashes between that competition and UEFA dates next season.

FA sources have challenged the notion that replays are major revenue earners for lower-league clubs.

Of the 19 third and fourth-round replays in the last 10 years where an EFL side was away to a Premier League team, 12 had an attendance of over 25,000. Only a very small percentage of first and second-round replays over the same period achieved attendances of over 7,000.

While the FA Cup final will not be the last domestic fixture of the season, as was the case for many years, there will not be Premier League matches scheduled on the same day.

The late May Bank Holiday weekend has been ringfenced for the EFL play-offs.

The mid-season break has also been scrapped in order to allow the 2024-25 Premier League season to start in mid-August. It is hoped the longer break will ensure top-flight clubs are able to give their players a consecutive three-week rest.


Crysencio Summerville: The Championship Player of the Season
FotMob - April 18, 2024, 5:04 PM
The 2023-24 season carried considerable expectations for Leeds United. After a thrilling but short return to the Premier League in the beginning of the 2020’s, Leeds had now found themselves with the unenviable task of quickly returning to the top flight of English football. There aren’t too many instances of clubs reclaiming their Premier League status only a year after relegation, which is a credit to how much of a grind the Championship really is.
By Mohamed Mohamed

For the most part, Leeds have performed like arguably the best team in the Championship. They’re top of the division in terms of expected goals (76.4) and expected goals conceded (just 36). That formidable attack has been led by Crysencio Summerville. He’s tied for fourth in the Championship for total goals and assists, and in expected goals and assists per 90 minutes (0.73). Add to it that he’s been an absolute workhorse, playing over 3200 minutes and starting 38 matches, and it’s easy to see how valuable Summerville has been to Leeds this season.


What makes Summerville a tough player to gameplan against is how well rounded he’s been in the Championship this season. He’s comfortable operating in the half space or maneuvering near the left touchline and stretching the opposition’s defensive structure. At 2.5 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, it places him 14th among players in the Championship. He can use his explosiveness to attack the byline, with a good example being the penalty he drew vs Hull in their recent 3-1 victory. The best wingers in the game can often beat their opponent off the dribble and discombobulate the opposition’s defensive structure. Summerville will also come inside and battle to maintain possession even with multiple opponents all over him.

As well as attacking down the outside, Summerville utilizes his dribbling and ball carrying to cut inside in the final third. There are few things scarier for defenders in the Championship than having Summerville carry the ball towards them with space to gobble up. There’s a high level of command shown in how he can change the tempo as a dribbler, with constant stop and starts unbalancing his marker. Even from a standstill against a deeper block, a quick feint and sidestep helps him generate ample space to set up his next action.

This ability to consistently access the half spaces can be partially seen in Summerville’s shot map, where a notable amount of his shots from open play come from the left channel and wide area of the box. There is some value in regularly creating a 5-7% quality of shot off the dribble. However, being primarily a ball-to-feet winger leads to a harder ceiling on the quality of opportunities one can get on a per-shot basis. Summerville isn’t renowned for his forward movement into the box, even though he can contribute occasional straight line runs in behind during transition.


The way Summerville strikes the ball is interesting. While he tries to keep goalkeepers honest by aiming both ways, his best strikes tend to be when using finesse to beat goalkeepers with precision rather than striking it through the laces, especially when cutting inside. This has led to fantastic finishes, such as the goal he scored versus Watford in their 2-2 draw.


Summerville’s ability as a dribbler helps amplify his playmaking, which has been among the best in the league. He’s third in the league for both total expected assists and expected assists per 90. The balence he has when carrying the ball puts defenders on their heels, which opens up different passing angles for him to exploit. If he’s out wide in a 1v1, he can beat his opponent and look to create cut-backs or square passes inside the penalty area. When given a head of steam on the inside, he also has through balls and reverse passes in his repertoire, which he can use to great effect.


When not focusing on chance creation and just examining general passing quality, Summerville is proficient. He is always looking to create quick one-twos within the final third. If he’s not dictating play himself, he is looking to help combine with teammates in front of the defensive block rather than being a winger who holds a wide position. Against select matchups, he can hold up play and bring others into the game, but that isn’t a particular strength of his.

This explosive skillset helped Summerville win the Championship’s Player of the Season award, which was no small feat given the list of contenders for the honor. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s all-around play from midfield has been a major reason why Leicester are in pole position for promotion. Meanwhile, Adam Armstrong leads the league in combined goals and assists for a Southampton side that’s nipping at the heels of the top three. Summerville’s combination of electric dribbling along with high-end creation for himself and others has been something Leeds could rely on throughout the season.


Leeds have three games left to try and earn automatic promotion to the Premier League and avoid the chaos otherwise known as the playoffs. They’ll need at least one of Ipswich and Leicester to slip up in the home stretch, as well as taking care of their own business. A return to form from the league’s best player would do wonders since Summerville only has two goals over his last 11 matches. It could be a curling strike into the top corner, or evading two or more opponents to create a chance for someone else. Whatever it might be, Crysencio Summerville has the goods to deliver a few more trademark moments to make Leeds’ dream of Premier League football come true.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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