The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will not be used in any of the FA Cup third-round fixtures, which begin on Thursday, January 11, 2025.
This marks a significant change from previous seasons, as VAR has been part of the competition since the 2017-18 season.
Initially, VAR was only implemented in third-round matches when a Premier League team played at home,“due to the infrastructure, workforce, and costs required for its operation.”
The introduction of VAR in some ties created a two-tier system, where refereeing decisions were reviewed based on the stadium hosting the match.
For instance, if a lower-league team secured a replay at a Premier League ground, VAR conditions differed between the two fixtures.
In the 2023-24 season, VAR was used in 10 of the 32 third-round ties and seven of the 16 fourth-round matches.
However, the Football Association (FA) has now implemented a new rule to ensure consistent officiating across all clubs in the same round.
As a result, there will be no VAR in the third and fourth rounds of the FA Cup this year, with VAR returning for the fifth round, regardless of the venue
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