FA Cup replays could be scrapped under new proposals being discussed by the Premier League and the Football Association, according to a report.
The move is just one of several under consideration as the governing bodies look to reduce the number of fixtures played by clubs in order to improve their performance in European competitions, as well as that of the England national team.
Liverpool have most notably been affected by fixture congestion in recent months, with progress in the League Cup and replays in the FA Cup forcing them to play 13 games in the space of 43 days.
England and France are the only major European countries to have two domestic cup competitions, further adding to the fixture count relative to the likes of La Liga and the Bundesliga.
The Independent claims that the Premier League is concerned that the "intensity" of the English schedule means that top players are more likely to pick clubs such as Real Madrid or Barcelona, while there is a higher risk of injury associated with playing for an English club due to the higher number of games.
Other proposals on the table include playing more FA Cup games in midweek and reducing the two legs of the League Cup semi-finals to just one.
Neil Wilkes
