Yahoo News FA announce decision that affects Birmingham City as £33m pledge made
The FA Cup will not include replays from next season after a landmark agreement between The FA and the Premier League.
Birmingham City’s fixtures in the 2024/25 FA Cup will be decided on the day after replays from rounds one to four were scrapped. Replays in the fifth round and beyond have already been binned and The FA have now confirmed that no replays will take place in the ‘competition proper’ for at least the next six years.
This news comes as a result of extensive negotiations between The FA and the Premier League and is a consequence of the increased schedules of top flight clubs caused by UEFA’s expanded programme. The Premier League will provide up to £33million in additional funding to grassroots football in a bid to compensate for the financial hit lower league clubs will take from scrapping replays.
The FA statement said: “The Premier League has increased funding to the football pyramid, providing up to an additional £33 million for grassroots football on top of the £100 million it currently gives to good causes each season.
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“The League will provide up to £133 million per season from the 2025-26 season, maintaining existing commitments and enhancing support to key areas of the game. The Premier League currently gives away £1.6 billion every three years – 16 per cent of its total revenues – to all levels of men’s and women’s football, and this new money will provide significant support to a range of areas as the game continues to grow.”
Blues exited The FA Cup at the fourth round stage this year after advancing from the third round via a replay. Blues edged past Hull City in front of their lowest crowd this season thanks to a late goal by Koji Miyoshi after drawing the first game 1-1.
