FA Cup Moved To Mid Week As Deal For Winter Break Is Struck.
The FA Cup is set to be moved to mid week as the winter break deal has been struck. The movement of the fixtures is part of the deal that allowed for the winter break.
The break, which commences February 2020 after the FA, Premier League and Football League agreed, will see players off for two weeks.
The FA Cup 5th round will now be played entirely in midweek breaking the strong tradition of weekend ties and with no replay. This also is a part of the deal.
There will, however, still be some football during the period, as the break will be staggered. Clubs will take turns to play on weekends – five matches will take place on one and another five on another – but all clubs will be guaranteed 13 days without a game.
It has long been argued that the long English season leaves players exhausted ahead of major international competitions, and the England team will hope to be the primary beneficiaries of the break if they qualify for Euro 2020, and future tournaments.
It has also been claimed that English clubs are at a disadvantage against Continental opponents during the latter stages of European competitions, with Spanish, German and Italian clubs all having the chance to refresh in warmer climes during a winter break.
The winter break will not apply in the Championship, League One and League Two as the 46-game league schedule already means a schedule packed with midweek fixtures.
The Football league has also dug its heels in over the League Cup semi-finals, insisting that those high-profile ties are still played over two legs.
The left the FA as the ones to relent, with the hope that by sacrificing one weekend of FA Cup football to the Premier Leeague will reap rewards for the national team, which it runs.
The break will be taken in the first two weeks of February, which keeps the traditional festive fixture list intact.
Each club is guaranteed 13 days off between matches, but the break will be staggered so there will be weekend Premier League football throughout the break period.
10 clubs will play on Saturday February 1 or Sunday February 2, before returning to action on either Saturday February 15 or Sunday February 16.
There are two options for when the other 10 clubs would take their break – it is unclear as yet which option will be taken.
Clubs could play on Saturday January 25 or Sunday January 26 and then return after 13 days on Saturday February 8 or Sunday February 9; or they could play on Saturday February 8 or Sunday February 9 and return on Saturday February 22 or Sunday February 23.
The latter option is more unlikely, however, as clubs will need to be back up and running in time for European competitions – the Champions League last-16 this year took place from Wednesday February 13.
Space in the calendar for the break has been created by moving the FA Cup 5th round to an as yet undecided midweek date, and scrapping replays for the round.
The Championship, League One and League Two will not have a winter break.
