FA Cup set to change rules from upcoming season, know what changes will occur

The FA Cup semi-finals are one the board as the four teams Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea FC and Coventry City are poised to face their respective opponents. As per the draw the Blues will be hosting the defending champions City on Saturday and the underdogs Coventry City will be facing the Red Devils on Sunday. City defeated United in the previous season's final and winning the treble in the very same season. United have the chance to qualify for one more final and have the chance to earn the silverware. 

Ahead of the semi-finals, the Football Association has decided a change in the rule for the competition from the upcoming seasons. As the decided that there will be no replays from the first round of next season, as part of a six-year deal with the Premier League to improve domestic competition. The announcement was made on Thursday by the committee. There has been a lot of changes that has been made ahead of the next season. 

The FA also announced that all FA Cup rounds will be played on weekends from the upcoming season, with the fourth and fifth rounds, as well as the quarterfinals, will be held separately from English Premier League games.The mid-season break was also removed from the calendar, allowing the Premier League to begin in mid-August and offer a longer close-season break. The annoucement has not been seen in a positive way for lot of commentators and football pundits. 

Is FA Cup fading away?

Some of the commentators also believes that it is another blow to the importance of the world's oldest domestic club competition. As the agreement's deal the PL will increase the funding it provides to the English football pyramid, giving an additional £33 million for the grassroots developments of the smaller clubs. 

Currently the PL provides £100m in funding to teams in lower leagues. Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said, "This [investment] will improve facilities for communities and lower league clubs across the country, through the Football Foundation and Premier League Stadium Fund."