FA Cup set for huge changes that would impact Man City and Manchester United

The FA Cup could be set for a huge shakeup, with replays and the showpiece weekend final set to be axed.

Massive changes could be on the horizon for the 152-year-old competition, impacting clubs at all levels of English football, as the Premier League presents an offer to the Football Association (FA) to sell overseas TV rights for the FA Cup for a decade starting from the 2024-25 season.

The FA Cup faces concerns over its significance, prompting the potential for significant alterations. Replays have already been eliminated from the fifth round onward, but under the new deal, the FA Cup would have to abandon them entirely, as reported by the Daily Mail (via the Mirror).

This move is expected to infuriate lower-league teams, who have often relied on lucrative away matches to secure substantial financial rewards. Furthermore, early rounds may be scheduled on midweek dates to avoid conflicting with league fixtures.

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Another aspect of the proposed changes would involve the elimination of the traditional FA Cup final weekend. Currently, the iconic event takes place as a standalone fixture at Wembley, with the most recent final featuring a memorable Manchester derby clash as City beat United 2-1. However, the Premier League wishes to stage the final alongside regular league matches.

According to the current proposition, the FA Cup final would be played on the penultimate Saturday of the season, with the remaining fixtures scheduled for Sunday. This arrangement could provoke uproar, as several clubs might be forced to accommodate an additional fixture late in the season if they reach the final.

Additionally, domestic TV rights, presently held by ITV and BBC, may be