July 28 – The FA Cup, the world’s oldest and most prestigious domestic knockout competition, breaks new ground this coming season with the introduction of a fourth substitute in extra time for the quarterfinals, semi-finals and final.
World football’s law-making-body, International Football Association Board (IFAB), is carrying out a study into a proposal that would allow teams to allow a fourth replacement as standard practise during extra time of major competitions.
Subject to IFAB approval, English football will play a lead role in testing the idea in the closing rounds of this season’s FA Cup.
This would mean clubs who have already used three substitutes from the seven players named on their bench will then be allowed to introduce a fourth player if there is no result after regulation time.
This format was first trialled earlier this summer in the Copa America Centenario.
FA Cup replays have already been scrapped from the quarterfinals onwards and FA chief executive Martin Glenn commented: “With the cup now adopting a straight knockout format from the quarter-finals onwards, the introduction of a fourth substitute in extra time will bring extra intrigue and interest.”
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