FA Cup Increases Prize Money Amid Replay Scrap

The Football Association (FA) has announced an additional £2.44 million in prize money for the first three rounds of this season's FA Cup to compensate clubs for the removal of replays. This decision, made in April, aims to address fixture congestion due to the expansion of international tournaments. The prize money increase includes £760,000 for round one, £560,000 for round two, and £1.12 million for round three, with losing clubs set to receive payments for the first time. Winners of the first round will earn £45,000, up from £41,000, while the total prize pool from the first round to the final will amount to £20.3 million. EFL clubs have been informed, and further details are expected to be shared soon, with the first round draw scheduled for October 14. This financial boost comes as the FA seeks to mitigate the impact of scrapping a long-standing tradition in the tournament.