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The EFL have been told to 'show some minerals' by Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony after FA Cup replays were controversially scrapped.

On a controversial day in football, it has been announced that FA Cup replays from the first round proper have been completely scrapped starting next season.

The FA Cup has scrapped replays throughout its competition
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The FA Cup has scrapped replays throughout its competitionCredit: Getty

It has seen a huge backlash from fans of lower-league clubs, who often rely on playing the bigger teams to help out with finances.

And Posh chairman MacAnthony, who often appears on talkSPORT as a pundit, has slammed the decision and told the English Football League (EFL) to stick up for their clubs.

He wrote on social media site X: "We are now at the stage where the big boys don't even bother to notify us/talk through proper changes like the one's announced today re the @EmiratesFACup.

"I have no idea what the @premierleague or the @fa are even thinking pulling this move the way its unfolded today.

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"If this is a sign of things to come then expect a full on fallout within English football coming soon all caused by one faction of our game.

"@EFL it is time to show some minerals in how we respond to these events today imo (in my opinion).

"Ignoring us lower down the pyramid is not a sensible route to take going forward.

"Time to get in a room/around a table & make proper progress on everything as this is not healthy for our industry."

The news will be a blow to clubs like Maidstone United who made it to the fifth round of the FA Cup this season
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The news will be a blow to clubs like Maidstone United who made it to the fifth round of the FA Cup this seasonCredit: Getty

Former Sky Sports commentator and football oracle Martin Tyler spoke on the Hawksbee & Jacobs Show on talkSPORT about the decision, hitting out at the changing nature of the FA.

He said: "The third round would have been a bit more logical and now the winter break, which was so championed for the Premier League clubs in January, that has been a casualty of this as well.

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"So priorities seem to change from time to time.

"I just feel that if you chip away at the bottom of the pyramid, you won't have a structure at all sooner rather than later.

"That seems to me what is happening here. Of course, I am a traditionalist. I've played in the FA Cup qualifying rounds, loved that. You had to sign a special form to be eligible to play.

"There are challenges to raise money for lower down the pyramid, of course it is the responsibility of the club themselves, they can't rely on handouts.

"But this was one way to increase the interest in a club."

The FA Cup this year saw no replays from the fifth round onwards but that has now changed throughout the competitions.

It comes in light of expanded competitions by UEFA and FIFA, including the newly-formatted Champions League next season which will include extra matches.

There is also the expanded Club World Cup, which will include 32 teams in 2025 - up from the seven clubs that took place in Saudi Arabia in December 2023.

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However, clubs from the lower leagues in England have often benefited massively from FA Cup replays, which bring publicity, prize money and sometimes live televised coverage, as well as bigger gate receipts.

The Premier League have promised to donate £33million to grassroots football to make up for the losses made while all FA Cup games will always be on the weekend, as opposed to midweek matches.

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