FA Cup replays are set to be scrapped in a handful of one-off ties this season to ease the fixture congestion caused by the death of the Queen.
Premier League clubs had wanted all third and fourth-round replays to be dropped after having 13 top-flight matches postponed over the last two weekends, but the FA are determined to retain them if possible and will instead agree to make a handful of ties one-off games if necessary, with the issue to be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
FA Cup replays provide around 20 per cent of the competition's £1billion TV deal each season so the governing body are understandably eager to keep them to avoid paying rebates to broadcasters.