LONDON: England’s football powers locked horns on Friday as a row erupted over the scrapping of FA Cup replays with the lower leagues saying they had been cut out of the decision process after an angry reaction from clubs who fear losing revenue.

The FA announced the move on Thursday to scrap replays in England’s biggest cup competition from next season, prompting criticism and calls to re-evaluate from several lower league clubs with both the government and opposition Labour party commenting on the decision.

English football’s governing body issued a statement on Friday saying representatives from the English Football League (EFL), made up of the three divisions directly below the top flight Premier League, agreed in meetings to ditch replays.

The EFL, however, said the final decision was made by the FA and Premier League alone.

“We have been discussing the calendar for 2024-25 season with the Pre­mier League and EFL for we­ll over a year,” the FA said.

“Removing Emirates FA Cup replays was discussed in the early meetings and all parties accepted that they could not continue.”

The EFL, however, said they did discuss the matter with the FA in September but there was no agreement in place before the change was announced.

“The agreement which now sees the abolition of replays from the competition format was agreed sol­e­ly between Premier Lea­gue and FA,” the EFL said.

“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.”

The FA said the new calendar was approved by the Professional Game Board, which has representatives from both the Premier League and the EFL, then by the FA Board where the National League and grassroots game was represented as well.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2024