United given screen break after 13 years

Manchester United’s 13-year run of 58 televised FA Cup matches has finally come to an end. The thirdround tie against Derby County next month is a surprise omission from the games selected for broadcast.

Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace will also play the first competitive match in England in which video replays will be used to overturn refereeing decisions.

The clubs’ tie was chosen yesterday to stage a trial of so-called Video Assistant Referees (VARS) from the televised fixtures shown by the BBC and BT on Jan 5-8.

That will be followed on Saturday lunchtime by League One Fleetwood Town or non-league Hereford against Leicester City – Leicester bought Jamie Vardy from Fleetwood – again on the BBC. Later that day, BT Sport will show Norwich City v Chelsea, while the Sunday games will be Shrewsbury v West Ham United (BBC) and Nottingham Forest v holders Arsenal (BT). BT will also show the “M23 derby” between Brighton and Palace the following evening.

The last United Cup match not to be shown live on television was the first of their defence of the trophy they won in 2004, a surprise goalless home draw against non-league Exeter City.

Their non-selection next month follows a backlash last year against their mundane third-round home clash against Reading being picked ahead of National League Sutton United’s more romantic encounter with AFC Wimbledon.

Terrestrial broadcasters in particular have struggled to resist picking United’s FA Cup ties, given there are few opportunities for them to show the club who regularly attract the biggest TV audience in Britain.

The Football Association announced its intention in March to use VARS in this season’s FA Cup from the third round onwards.

Trials look set to be limited to televised games at Premier League grounds, which have the infrastructure for the technology to be properly implemented.