FA may scrap more replays

THE FA will consider scrapping more replays in the FA Cup after acknowledging Premier League clubs’ complaints about the congested fixture calendar. Replays from the quarter-finals onwards have already been stopped, but the FA may extend that to the fifth round to lighten the load on the schedule. Talks between the FA and other stakeholders across the game will continue. After failing to beat League One Shrewsbury away two weeks ago, West Ham were left less than impressed with having to add another fixture to an already full list. The Hammers won 1-0 at the London Stadium on Tuesday in a game that went to extra time. There were also some low attendances for last week’s third-round FA Cup replays, with only 4,986 at Reading’s 24,000-seater Madejski Stadium to watch their 3-0 win over Stevenage.