The Football Association has announced a key change to the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup, confirming that Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be implemented “from the Fifth Round onwards” to ensure a consistent refereeing approach across all matches at this stage of the competition.
In the official press release on Monday on its website, titled, “VAR Confirmed for Emirates FA Cup from Fifth Round Onward.”
The FA stated, “It has been agreed that VAR will be utilised for every match in the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium.”
However, it clarified that VAR “will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds.”
This decision reflects an effort to address historical challenges associated with the use of VAR in the competition.
Previously, VAR was only deployed “for matches at Wembley Stadium and Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce, and costs that are required for its operation.”
By focusing its implementation from the Fifth Round onwards, the FA aims to strike a balance between accessibility and fairness.
“This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition.”
As the Emirates FA Cup approaches its pivotal stages, fans and players alike can expect a heightened sense of fairness and precision, with VAR now playing a central role in shaping the competition’s climax.
