The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will not be used in the FA Cup third-round fixtures, which begin on Thursday. VAR has been part of the competition since the 2017-18 season, initially implemented in third-round matches, but only for home games involving Premier League teams.
Due to infrastructure, workforce, and cost concerns, the system has operated in a two-tier format. Lower-league teams playing against Premier League clubs at home would have different conditions, often leading to VAR being applied selectively.
For example, in the 2023-24 season, only 10 of the 32 third-round matches had VAR, and just seven of the 16 matches in the fourth round.
The Football Association has now decided that no VAR will be used in the third and fourth rounds of the competition, but it will be available from the fifth round onwards, ensuring consistent refereeing across all stages.