FA Cup: Play or you’re out!

THE FA have warned clubs they must play next weekend’s FA Cup third-round fixtures or risk forfeiting the tie. Fulham’s Covid crisis means they could be forced to field academy players against QPR.

Non-League clubs may struggle to name full matchday squads after they are all tested this week, paid for by the FA.

THE FA have warned clubs that they have to play next weekend’s FA Cup third-round fixtures or risk forfeiting the tie.

With Fulham’s coronavirus crisis — which has caused them to have two Premier League games postponed — having grown in recent days, they could be forced to field academy players in the tie against QPR next Saturday depending on how many players are available by then.

But there will be even greater fears for non-league clubs such as Marine, Chorley, Borehamwood and Stockport County who will undergo testing paid for by the FA this week which could see asymptomatic players ruled out and clubs struggling to field a team.

Clubs have been told to play if they have 14 players fit — though even that may not be enough if a team do not have a goalkeeper.

The FA are encouraging clubs to test a wider pool of players outside the regular first-team squad in case of multiple positives.

A player cannot be drafted in at the last minute unless they have tested negative for coronavirus, so the FA are keen that fringe academy players are also tested in case they are needed to make up numbers.

Fulham’s outbreak has led to their games against Spurs and Burnley being called off, as the club attempts to contain the spread. With the fourth round set for the weekend of

January 23 — a week earlier than usual — and replays having already been jettisoned because of the fixture build-up, there is little prospect of rescheduling games.

Premier League clubs have midweek fixtures in both weeks running up the fourth round and there is a full round of EFL fixtures on January 19-20. In reality, any team that cannot fulfil a fixture will forfeit the tie and their opponents be awarded a bye.

The FA will hope the guidance they have sent round to clubs will ensure almost all the third-round ties can be played, as a raft of cancellations would be embarrassing.