Why is VAR not being used in FA Cup fourth round? | OneFootball

The 2024/25 FA Cup has provided English football supporters with a reprieve from the VAR-centric discourse that surrounds the Premier League on a weekly basis.

Amendments to the competition's rules means that VAR is yet to be used in this year's FA Cup, much to the relief of the majority of fans up and down the country. Those in the Championship and below are used to such bliss, but Premier League players, managers and followers have welcomed the respite.

The world's oldest cup competition has not turned its back on the technology but it will not be used in the fourth round. Here's why.

Referees have not had the crutch of VAR yet / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

Prior to the 2024/25 season, the FA Cup employed VAR in matches staged at Premier League home grounds, as well as the semi-finals and final at Wembley Stadium. Clubs outside of the top tier - even those with VAR capabilities that had dropped into the Championship - went without the technology in home matches.

However, to ensure fairness and consistency across the competition, VAR has now been scrapped for the fourth round and prior. Even Premier League stadiums did not employ the officiating system in the third round of this year's competition.

The decision was made to make sure that the same rules were applied for every team across the competition, addressing previous complaints about the sporadic use of VAR and how it created an imbalance between top division and lower league clubs.

When will VAR be used in the FA Cup?

VAR will still be used in the FA Cup / Vince Mignott/MB Media/GettyImages

While VAR is yet to be used in the 2024/25 FA Cup, it will be utilised in the fifth round and beyond regardless of venue. It will be used in every match from the fifth round to the final, even during home ties for clubs outside the Premier League.

An FA statement in December read: "Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will only be used in the 2024-25 from the Fifth Round onwards.

"It has been agreed that VAR will be utilised for every match in the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium, and will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds.

"VAR has only been used in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.

"This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition."