FA CUP fixtures next season will include extra time – despite calls for them to follow the Carabao Cup’s suit.
The EFL scrapped extra time in the Carabao Cup in 2018, with all fixtures – barring the final – being decided by a penalty shootout in the event of a stalemate.
But FA chiefs, according to the Times, aren’t planning to follow suit.
That’s despite their recent scrapping of replays, which used to be huge money-spinners for lower league clubs.
The decision to axe replays was widely condemned, with many believing it was made to cater to Premier League clubs’ fixture schedules.
Lower league sides are at a clear disadvantage in terms of squad depth and fitness levels when games go to extra time.
That fact wasn’t more apparent when non-League Tamworth Town took Tottenham Hotspur the full 90 minutes in their third-round tie in January.
The Lambs did extraordinarily well to hold Spurs to a 0-0 draw but ended up conceding three goals in extra-time against the much fitter Premier League side.
Extra time that day cruelly denied Tamworth a huge payday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The money generated from a replay would’ve been invaluable to The Lambs.
Getting rid of extra time and going straight to penalties would somewhat level the playing field between lower league clubs and teams in the top-flight.
Additionally, it would go some way to helping tackle the issue of player fatigue.
Several high-profile figures are keen on scrapping extra time in Cup matches, including Gary Lineker.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, he said: “We’ve argued many times, just get rid of extra time. Just go to penalties. It makes so much sense.
“Particularly with the amount of football teams are playing now, the amount of injuries we’re getting. Just play 90 minutes, then settle it on penalties.
“Because once it goes to extra time, the vast majority of us are thinking, particularly when it’s as bad as it was last night [Man Utd vs Fulham], you’re just thinking, ‘Come on, penalty shootout, a bit of excitement.'”
Co-host Alan Shearer was in full agreement, saying: “Straight to penalties, I’m all for that.”
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