Do FA Cup fourth-round games go to extra time and penalties or a replay?

The FA Cup fourth round begins this Friday as Manchester United host Leicester City at Old Trafford and the controversial change for the world’s oldest cup competition will continue. Ruben Amorim’s side benefited from the decision to scrap replays in the third round last month as they beat Arsenal on penalties in a thrilling FA Cup tie at the Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, non-league Tamworth were denied the chance of a lucrative replay at Tottenham’s 62,850-seater stadium after they lost to Ange Postecoglou’s side in extra time.

Here is everything you need to know as clubs look to book their spot in the fifth round across this weekend. From the start of the 2024/25 season, FA Cup replays have been scrapped from the first round onwards. If the score is level at full time, the match will go to extra time. If the additional 30 minutes does not provide a winner then the tie is decided by a penalty shootout. The decision to scrap replays was announced in April last year after the Football Association agreed a new scheduling deal with the Premier League.

The agreement is in place for the next six years with England’s top-flight set to provide grassroots football with an extra £33 million worth a funding per season. It is said the decision was made in part because of the expansion of European competitions, with Champions League and Europa League games now being played in January. In theory, no replays will ease congestion – for both teams playing in Europe and those in the EFL – and support player welfare, but the move has been criticised by clubs outside of the Premier League.

Replays have provided smaller teams with the opportunity to boost their finances and in some cases have guaranteed their survival, and while the FA have agreed extra payments to compensate clubs, those affected say they were not consulted over the change. ‘The agreement which now sees the abolition of replays from the competition format was agreed solely between the Premier League and FA,’ the English Football League said in a statement last year.

‘Ahead of the deal being announced there was no agreement with the EFL nor was there any formal consultation with EFL Clubs as members of the FA and participants in the competition. ‘This latest agreement between the Premier League and the FA, in the absence of financial reform, is just a further example of how the EFL and its Clubs are being marginalised in favour of others further up the pyramid and that only serves to threaten the future of the English game.’.

Speaking last month, BBC host Gary Lineker suggested that 30 minutes of extra time could be scrapped next, with ties going straight to penalties if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes. The idea of removing extra time is to help teams lower down the leagues who have earned a draw against tougher opposition. In the FA Cup third round last month, National League side Tamworth held Tottenham to a goalless draw after 90 minutes before Postecoglou’s side went on to score three goals in extra time to avoid a penalty shootout.

‘I think if they’re going to take away replays they should take away extra-time because it really favours the strong teams,’ Lineker said. The FA is planning to review FA Cup once again at the end of the season, however, there is no chance that replays will be reintroduced. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.