The FA Cup "could become a midweek competition with no replays under plans being discussed by the Football Association and Premier League clubs," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH.
Two-legged League Cup semifinals "may also be scrapped with the aim of reducing fixture congestion and improving the performances of English clubs in Europe and the England team."
No decision "has been made over what would be one of the biggest shake-ups of the domestic calendar for years but there is a growing consensus that it needs to be reduced."
The shift of the 2022 World Cup to the winter last year prompted FA Vice-Chair David Gill "to warn that FA Cup replays and two-leg League Cup semi-finals may have to be axed that season." Making the change permanent -- and introducing it earlier -- "would be a controversial move." English clubs "have long seen to be at a disadvantage over their European counterparts due to the intensity of the schedule, which some believe leads to greater risk of fatigue and injury" (TELEGRAPH, 2/15).
