The English Football Association confirmed there be no FA Cup replays next season to reduce pressure on the 2020/21 calender.
The coronavirus-enforced break in March caused the 2019/20 campaign to come to a late end, with the FA Cup final itself being played on August 1 rather than its traditional May date.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are yet to conclude their campaign as they await a Europa League semi-final clash with Sevilla on Sunday. While Chelsea and Wolves have only just concluded their European campaigns.
This isn’t an ideal scenario for any of the above-mentioned clubs as the new Premier League season begins on September 12.
So the Football Association (FA) announced there will be no replays in the 2020/21 FA Cup to help ease the strain on clubs.
OFFICIAL: There will be no FA Cup replays during the 2020/21 season to "ease pressure' on the football calendar.
The League Cup will also see two legged semi-finals being replaced by a single tie. pic.twitter.com/6HJ5bRM1I1
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) August 13, 2020
The competition begins with an extra preliminary round on 1 September. The final, on the other hand, will take place on May 15 next year at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Furthermore, the Carabao Cup semi-finals will be one single match rather than the traditional two-legged fixtures.
The first round of the competition begins on September 5, just four days after the FA Cup. While the final will again take place at Wembley on 28 February 2021.
Draws for the FA Cup extra preliminary and preliminary rounds, and the EFL Cup first round takes place on August 18.
Full schedule for 2020/21 FA Cup season
- Extra preliminary round: Tuesday 1 September 2020
- Preliminary round: Saturday 12 September 2020
- First-round qualifying: Tuesday 22 September 2020
- Second-round qualifying: Saturday 3 October 2020
- Third round qualifying: Tuesday 13 October 2020
- Fourth round qualifying: Saturday 24 October 2020
- First-round proper: Saturday 7 November 2020
- Second round proper: Saturday 28 November 2020
- Third round proper: Saturday 9 January 2021
- Fourth round proper: Saturday 23 January 2021
- Fifth-round proper: Wednesday 10 February 2021
- Quarter-finals: Saturday 20 March 2021
- Semi-finals: Saturday 17 April 2021
- The Final: Saturday 15 May 2021
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