Revealed: FA did NOT discuss controversial decision to scrap replays with FA Cup Committee – as details emerge of heated meeting with EFL representatives

The FA’s controversial move to scrap FA Cup replays completely from next season was not discussed by the governing body’s FA Cup Committee in another indication of the secrecy surrounding the historic decision. 

Mail Sport has learned that the 12-person committee, which is responsible for all aspects of running the 153-year-old competition, was not involved in talks relating to the seismic change that has sparked an angry backlash from the EFL and their clubs.

The FA Cup Committee is chaired by the Premier League‘s Peter McCormick and made up of four representatives from the top-flight, four from the EFL and four from the grassroots game. All issues relating to competition and any rule changes fall under its remit.

FA sources told Mail Sport that under their governance rules they are not obliged take issues relating to the calendar to the FA Cup Committee. Instead the move to axe replays was agreed by the FA’s Professional Game Board, which is made up of four representatives each from the Premier League and the EFL, before being approved by the full FA Board.

Mail Sport has been given details of heated discussions of the Professional Game Board meeting on 5th March which waived through the decision despite vocal opposition from the EFL. 

Mail Sport understands the FA Cup Committee were not consulted on the seismic change

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham is understood to have told the meeting that the clubs would welcome the removal of replays to ease fixture congestion, a claim which was immediately contested by EFL club representatives Peter Ridsdale of Preston, and Millwall’s Steve Kavanagh and Jez Moxley of Burton Albion.

In addition to the loss of matches, income and tradition the EFL’s anger at the FA has been compounded at what they perceive as the governing body removing their one point of leverage over the Premier League in their ongoing dispute over a new financial settlement for the lower divisions. 

An agreement over the fixture list was seen by the EFL as their one negotiating card with the Premier League, but the FA Cup element has been removed, leaving only the two-legged Carabao Cup semi-finals as

One EFL chief executive told Mail Sport: ‘The government keep saying the Premier League and EFL should do a deal, but it’s very hard to get a fair deal when you have no cards to play. Our only real card throughout has been the fixture list, and the FA have removed the biggest element of that by scrapping replays.

‘The FA have caved in to the Premier League, it’s as simple as that. Instead of standing firm and looking after the whole game they’ve been completely spineless.’

The FA released a statement on Friday morning with the governing body starting is has ‘listened to concerns expressed over the last 24 hours’, before outlining the approval process taken.

‘We have been discussing the calendar for the 2024-25 season with the Premier League and EFL for well over a year,’ an FA statement read.

‘Removing Emirates FA Cup replays was discussed in the early meetings and all parties accepted that they could not continue. 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 changes to the Emirates FA Cup achieve this by returning it to a weekend competition on every round, and ensuring that we have exclusive broadcast slots in an increasingly congested calendar.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham is understood to have told a meeting last month that the clubs would welcome the removal of replays to ease fixture congestion

EFL club representatives including Peter Ridsdale of Preston, pictured, contested the claim

‘To clarify, we have also increased the number of Emirates FA Cup matches that will be broadcast in the early rounds, which will lead to additional guaranteed broadcast revenue for EFL and National League teams. Additionally, we review the prize money annually for the competition, together with representatives from the EFL and PL and will do the same for the 2024-25 season.

‘The calendar for next season was approved by the Professional Game Board, which consists of four EFL representatives and four Premier League representatives, last month, and then by the FA Board, which includes Premier League, EFL, National Game and grassroots representation. This is the process we undergo every year to approve the calendar.

‘We understand the concerns expressed over the last 24 hours, and we will be sharing more details with clubs very shortly to explain the additional revenue opportunities in the early rounds.

‘We will keep this under review as the new calendar begins to ensure that EFL and National League clubs do not lose out.’