FA Cup fifth-round replays scrapped to ease top sides' fixture congestion

The Football Association have announced that fifth-round replays will be scrapped from this year’s FA Cup, a year earlier than planned.

The Professional Game Board agreed with the FA’s plan, which is designed to ease fixture congestion for the weekend February 16-17, the middle of a period when six Premier League sides will return to European action.

Manchester United face PSG in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 match on February 12, while Tottenham host Borussia Dortmund on the next day. The following week, Liverpool and Manchester City play their ties on the February 19 and 20 respectively.

READ MORE: How do you fix a problem like Manchester United?

READ MORE: Gerrard: Jose the best boss at United since Sir Alex

READ MORE: Carragher: Mourinho sacking has been coming since the summer

The FA’s decision to scrap the replays means fifth round ties that end in a draw after 90 minutes will be decided on extra time and penalties if required.

Two fifth-round ties went to replays last season: Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea and Rochdale v Spurs. League One’s Rochdale equalised in injury time to set up their visit to Wembley but lost the replay 6-1, while Swansea won at home 2-0 after a 0-0 draw at Hillsborough.

To compensate for the loss of a replay this season, the FA will split the £360,000 prize-fund payment for winning a fifth-round tie that goes beyond 90 minutes on a 75/25 basis in favour of the winning team. From next season, however, the winner will take it all, as normal.

From the 2019-20 season the fifth round will move to midweek, allowing for the long demanded winter break to be implemented in the English football calendar.

This break will be held between late January and early February so as not to affect the Premier League’s traditional Christmas fixture list.