FA Cup Fourth Round Rules: A Detailed Overview for 2025/26
The fourth round of the FA Cup is set to unfold this weekend, with Premier League and lower-league clubs fiercely competing to advance in the prestigious tournament. As excitement builds, understanding the specific regulations governing these matches is crucial for fans and teams alike. This guide provides an in-depth explanation of the key rules, including changes to replays, substitution protocols, and the use of technology.
Key Changes and Procedures
Removal of Replays: In a significant shift, traditional replays have been entirely eliminated from the first round proper onward to alleviate fixture congestion. Consequently, if a fourth-round match concludes in a draw after 90 minutes, it must be resolved on the same day, rather than through a subsequent replay.
Extra-Time and Penalty Shootouts: When scores are tied at the end of regular time, teams will engage in 30 minutes of extra-time. This was evident in several third-round fixtures, such as Wrexham versus Nottingham Forest and West Ham against QPR, with the former also proceeding to penalties. If the deadlock persists after extra-time, a standard penalty shootout will determine the winner, featuring five kicks per team followed by sudden death if necessary.
Substitution Rules and Innovations
Standard Substitution Limits: During the initial 90 minutes, teams are allowed to make up to five substitutions. To maintain match flow, managers have only three windows to implement these changes, excluding the half-time interval.
Additional Extra-Time Substitutes: Should a game extend into extra-time, each club is permitted one extra substitution and an additional window for that change. This raises the total potential substitutes to six per match. Notably, permanent concussion substitutions are also available for head injuries without affecting the substitution allocation.
Technological Aspects and Player Eligibility
Goalkeeper Time Restrictions: A new trial for the 2025/26 season, also enforced in the Premier League, imposes a strict eight-second limit on goalkeepers holding the ball. Exceeding this time results in a corner kick awarded to the opposition.
Absence of VAR: Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will not be utilized in the fourth round, even at Premier League stadiums. The Football Association has opted to exclude the technology this round to ensure a uniform refereeing experience across all participating clubs.
Goal-line and Offside Technology: In contrast to VAR, goal-line technology remains active from the third round onward, but only at stadiums owned by Premier League or EFL Championship clubs. Semi-automated offside technology will debut from the fifth round, limited to Premier League stadiums due to complex camera requirements, with VAR also introduced at that stage.
Cup-Tied Player Relaxations: New regulations this season permit players to represent two different clubs in the FA Cup during the same campaign. This means a player who participated for one team in earlier rounds can still be eligible for a new club after a January transfer, enhancing squad flexibility.
