The Football Association (FA) has announced a major update for the 2024/25 Emirates FA Cup, confirming that Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be introduced from the Fifth Round onward to ensure consistent officiating at this stage of the competition.
In an official statement released on Monday, titled “VAR Confirmed for Emirates FA Cup from Fifth Round Onward,” the FA clarified that VAR would be used for all matches from the Fifth Round through to the Final at Wembley Stadium. However, the statement noted that VAR will not be available for the Third and Fourth Rounds.
The FA explained that this move addresses previous challenges with implementing VAR in the competition. In the past, it was only used for matches held at Premier League grounds or Wembley Stadium due to logistical and financial constraints. By implementing VAR from the Fifth Round, the FA aims to balance fairness and accessibility while ensuring consistent refereeing for all teams at this stage.
“This decision ensures a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition,” the FA emphasized.
As the competition enters its critical stages, fans and players can expect improved fairness and precision, with VAR playing a key role in determining outcomes.
VAR in the Premier League
PUNCH Online recalls that VAR was first introduced during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where officials reviewed 335 incidents. It was later adopted by the Premier League for the 2019/20 season to address “clear and obvious errors” or “serious missed incidents” in specific scenarios.
While the Premier League acknowledged that VAR could not achieve 100% accuracy, it aimed to ensure “more correct and fairer judgements.” Despite its implementation, calls for a review of VAR decisions arose in November 2023.
Ahead of the 2024/25 season, Premier League clubs voted in favour of continuing with VAR while agreeing that improvements should be made to enhance its effectiveness for the benefit of the sport and its supporters.
