In an effort to ease the effort in light of the global pandemic, FA Cup replays will be done away with for the 2020-21 season, the Football Association announced on Thursday.
"In order to assist in easing pressure on the football schedule, there will be no replays for the 2020-21 season," the FA said in a statement.
As per the FA, all ties will be decided on the day itself rather than during the replay, as has been the norm.
The financial impact of the pandemic has also manifested itself into the tournament, with the FA stating, "After two seasons of record levels of prize funds, the Emirates FA Cup prize fund has returned back in line with 2017-18 levels due to the financial impact of the (global) pandemic."
The winners will stand to receive £1.8m, halved from the £3.6m of the previous season.
As per BBC Sport, Premier League 2020-21 fixtures are to be announced next week while English Football League fixtures will be revealed on August 21, followed by Championship, League One and League Two which are set to begin on September 12.
Also getting subjected to change will be the Carabao Cup, which will see its semi-finals be one-legged. The opening round is set to get underway on September 5, with the following three rounds sketched in between 15-16 September.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Catherine Ivill
