FA stand up to Klopp and Co over Cup replays

THE FA will not bow to pressure from Premier League managers to scrap FA Cup replays despite growing fears over player fatigue and injury. Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have called for a radical reform of domestic cup competitions this week, including abandoning all FA Cup replays, amid rising concerns about player welfare after Marcus Rashford was ruled out for most of the season with a double stress fracture of his back. The Manchester United striker is believed to have sustained the injury playing in last week’s FA Cup third-round replay against Wolves when not fully fit. Rashford’s injury follows a hamstring problem suffered by Harry Kane (right) that has left both players facing a race against time to be fit for Euro 2020 and also highlighted the issue of an overcrowded fixture list. The introduction of a winter break in the Premier League this season has in some respects compounded the issue, as there is no space in the schedule for fourth-round replays for top-flight clubs without League games being rearranged. The FA are adamant they will not unilaterally scrap early-round replays, however, as they provide a vital source of revenue to lower division clubs, who gain additional broadcast income and a greater chance of playing at a bigger stadium in a game where all gate receipts are split evenly. A Championship side playing away at a Premier League club in the third round earlier this month, for example, made more than £900,000. The FA also made a sacrifice last year by dumping fifth-round replays to create space for the winter break as part of an agreement with the Premier League and the EFL, and insist they will not give ground again. As a result there are unlikely to be any major changes in the domestic cups until 2024, the proposed start date for an expanded Champions League.