Major change to FA Cup confirmed with Arsenal vs Man Utd clash to look very different from Premier League

THE FA Cup will not use VAR until the fifth round this season.

In previous campaigns since 2019, all FA Cup matches played at Premier League stadiums have utilised VAR.

In a major change to this season’s competition, however, technology will only come into play from the fifth round onwards.

Should non-Premier League sides remain at that stage, and be drawn at home, VAR will be deployed at their venue.

The significant change has been made to ensure consistency across rounds.

An FA statement read: “Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will only be used in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards.

“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, and will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds.

“VAR has only been used in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.

“This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition.”

Several Premier League sides have been drawn at home and would have had VAR for their third round ties in previous seasons.

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Today’s news means that Arsenal‘s clash with Manchester United will now be played without VAR.

Other Premier League sides drawn at home include Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.

VAR was first trialled in the FA Cup during the 2017-18 season.

In 2022, the FA were forced to defend the use of VAR in some FA Cup ties and not in others, after just nine of 32 third round ties used the technology.