LONDON (AP) — Big changes have been made to the English soccer schedule in a congested and shorter season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Replays in the FA Cup have been scrapped “to assist in easing pressure on” the tight program, the Football Association said on Thursday.
In the English League Cup, two-leg semifinals have been replaced by a single match in January. Also, the first four rounds are scheduled to take place on consecutive weeks in September.
None of the traditional midweek dates are available in October and November which are given entirely to UEFA’s club and national-team competitions.