‘FA Cup replays abandoned for 2020/21 season to ease fixture pile-up for Premier League clubs’

FA Cup replays will be scrapped next season to ease fixture congestion and reduce the physical toll on Premier League players, according to reports.

On Friday it was announced that the 2020/21 season will restart on September 12 and finish on May 23 – just weeks after the end of the current campaign.

Top flight managers have already registered their concerns about the number of games players will be required to play in a compressed season. 

FA Cup replays will be scrapped next season to ease fixture congestion, according to reports 

On Friday it was announced the 20/21 season will start on September 12 and end on May 23

Managers are fearful players could suffer burnout and injuries with sheer volume of games

According to the Mirror, The FA has now responded by abandoning replays but there could be more trouble on the horizon surrounding the Carabao Cup.

It’s understood that Premier League managers want to be given permission to field Under-23 teams in the competition to rest players in between league fixtures.

If they’re not allowed, then some teams could threaten to pull out of the competition as they look to prioritise the league and European tournaments. 

Last season, Liverpool fielded a side made up largely of youth team players as they sent their first team to the Club World Cup in Qatar and other teams could use that as justification to field weaker sides.

Top flight teams reportedly want to field under-23 sides in the Carabao Cup next season

Liverpool fielded a largely under-23 side in the Carabao Cup to prioritise Club World Cup

However, such a move is likely to prompt opposition from EFL clubs, who are reliant on additional income from broadcasters and sponsors for Carabao Cup games against top flight sides.

Their main fear will be the potential knock on effect of sponsors pulling their money out of the competition and broadcasters removing games from their schedules, thus reducing the money Football League clubs will receive.

Talks between the EFL and FA are set to continue next week, while a vote is expected to take place regarding the implementation of the five substitute rule once the Championship play-offs have concluded. 

The Premier League is also likely to face questions from some of English football’s biggest clubs, who will be in Champions League and Europa League action until the final week of August – just one week prior to the start of the 20/21 season.