Football chiefs announce fourth substitute for extra time in FA Cup quarter-finals

FOOTBALL chiefs have announced teams can use a fourth substitute during extra-time in this season’s FA Cup quarter-finals.

The format will be used in the quarters, semis and final of this coming year’s competition, with the oldest cup tournament in football due to begin on August 5.

The idea was trialled in the Copa America Centenario final in the USA earlier in the summer.

That final even went to extra time and penalties, but neither team took advantage of the fourth substitute law.

The change is subject to approval from the game’s law-makers the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

It will see teams who have made all three changes during the 90 minutes of a quarter-final, semi-final or final tie permitted one extra during the additional period.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “With the cup now adopting a straight knock-out format from the quarter-finals onwards, the introduction of a fourth substitute in extra time will bring extra intrigue and interest.

“From a technical point of view, it will be interesting to see how managers use the chance to make an additional substitution in such high-profile games and the impact it has on the result.”

Manchester United won last season’s FA Cup final in extra time with Jesse Lingard scoring the winning goal in front a of jubilant Red Devils support at Wembley.

It could spell the end to the common sight of players on a team hobbling around the pitch with cramp during the final phases of extra time, usually because a team has used up all their substitutions.

The FA has also ditched quarter-final replays in a bid to ease up fixture congestion – as new England boss Sam Allardyce also pushes for a winter break in English football to match those in Germany and Spain.