English football's calendar reforms are expected to see replays in the third and fourth rounds of the FA Cup scrapped, according to reports.
With European continental competitions expanding as of next season following a change to the group stage format, the already congested fixture schedule had threatened to become more packed still.
The Champions League, for example, will as of 2024-25 see 36 teams compete rather than the existing 32, with the new 'league phase' lasting 10 weeks - four more than the current format.
As such, greater pressure was set to begin to build around the domestic calendar with Football League clubs playing in two different major cup tournaments in addition to league football.