Premier League clubs to field a team for FA Cup third round ties

Premier League clubs have been told they must field a team for this weekend's FA third round games despite the Covid surge that has gripped English football.

In a note sent to all 20 clubs on Wednesday, clubs were told that they effectively have to fulfil their fixtures even if it means fielding a team full of academy players ultimately meaning there will not be any more postponements this weekend.

The domestic calendar has been affected by so many postponements in recent weeks due to the rise in Covid cases among players and staff and the increasing number of injuries.

In the Premier League, a match can be postponed if a club can prove they do not have 13 outfield players plus one goalkeeper available from their senior squad and a list of 'appropriately experienced Under-21s'.

An appropriately experienced U21 is a player who has participated, whether as a starter or substitute, for a club in a first-team competition this season.

However, the Premier League have now confirmed to clubs that, unlike their own rules, this season's FA Cup will not apply any experience criteria to young players.

Instead, clubs will be required to name any registered player on their books to meet the 14 players threshold required for the game to go ahead.

In its guidance sent to teams yesterday, the Premier League have also confirmed that any youngster who either plays or is an unused substitute for this weekend's cup fixtures will be exempt from being considered as an 'appropriately experienced U21 player' for top-flight games.

The FA's player availability rule does open up the opportunity for top-flight clubs to flood their match-day squads for this weekend's matches with academy players to give their senior stars a rest.

That is a scenario the FA want to avoid as they look to protect the integrity of the competition and its standing as the most famous domestic cup tournament in the world.

In extreme circumstances, where a club's playing staff has been completely decimated by Covid and injury, the FA would consider an application to postpone a match.

“Clubs competing in the 2021/22 Emirates FA Cup are expected to participate in fixtures as they are currently scheduled.” an FA spokesman confirmed to Sports Mail.

“However, if a club does not have the sufficient number of eligible players available due to COVID-19, this should be reported to The FA at the earliest opportunity and would be referred to the Professional Game Board for consideration.”

Replays have been removed in both the Third and Fourth rounds of the 2021/22 Emirates FA Cup to alleviate the possibility of fixture congestion following several postponements in recent weeks and continued uncertainty ahead due to Covid-19.

Meanwhile, in line with new Government and Premier League guidelines, the FA have effectively scrapped the use of PCR tests, instead leaning heavily on using lateral flow tests.

Premier League clubs to field a team for FA Cup third round ties

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