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why is there no var in the fa cup

There is VAR in the FA Cup, but not in every round or at every ground, which is why it often feels like there’s “no VAR in the FA Cup” at all.

Quick Scoop: The Short Version

  • In the 2025–26 season, VAR and semi‑automated offside tech are not used in the 3rd and 4th rounds.
  • From the 5th round onwards, VAR is used in every tie, all the way to the final.
  • The FA says this is to keep things fair and consistent between big clubs and lower‑league sides, and because of cost and infrastructure limits at smaller grounds.

What the FA is actually doing

In recent seasons, the FA Cup has used VAR in a staggered way:

  • Historically: only at Premier League grounds and Wembley (semi‑finals and final).
  • Now: no VAR in the 3rd and 4th rounds, then VAR in all matches from the 5th round onwards, regardless of who’s at home.

So when people say “there’s no VAR in the FA Cup”, they’re usually talking about those early, headline‑making rounds where big teams can still be knocked out and controversies blow up.

Why they removed it from early rounds

The FA has openly said the main reason is sporting integrity and consistency.

1. Avoiding a “two‑tier” competition

When VAR was only available at Premier League stadiums:

  • A borderline offside or penalty at a Premier League ground could be checked and overturned.
  • The same kind of incident at a League One or League Two ground had no tech help at all.

This created what the FA itself called a “two‑tier” refereeing system, where some clubs enjoyed extra protection from technology and others didn’t.

By scrapping VAR entirely for rounds three and four, the FA’s logic is:

Better that everyone plays under the same conditions — even if that means no VAR — than that some get it and some don’t.

2. Infrastructure and cost at smaller grounds

VAR isn’t just a replay screen; it needs:

  • Multiple calibrated broadcast‑quality cameras
  • Reliable connectivity and a video operation room
  • Trained VAR officials and technicians

The FA notes that this infrastructure and workforce currently exist only at certain grounds, mostly in the Premier League. Smaller stadiums — especially in League One, League Two, or non‑league — simply don’t have that setup, and installing it temporarily is expensive and complex.

So there’s a practical constraint behind the fairness argument: they can’t just “switch on” VAR everywhere overnight without big investment.

But wait… there is tech in some early‑round games

Even when there’s no VAR in the 3rd and 4th rounds, some technology still appears in certain ties:

  • Goal‑line technology is used at Premier League and Championship grounds.

So you can still see tight goal decisions decided by the watch beep at some stadiums, but not at others, which adds another layer to the fairness debate.

Fans and pundits: mixed reactions

The lack of VAR in early FA Cup rounds has triggered some heated forum and pundit debate, especially after big controversies.

  • Some argue the FA Cup should be fully modern and use VAR from the moment Premier League teams enter to minimise “wrong” results.
  • Others say matches are actually more enjoyable without long stoppages and microscopic offsides, and that the chaos is part of the competition’s charm.

One high‑profile example discussed online: a controversial offside winner in a Manchester United vs Leicester FA Cup tie fuelled calls for VAR in all rounds because fans felt a major decision went unchecked. On the flip side, former players and pundits have said they “enjoy” games more when VAR isn’t there and that the flow and emotion feel more old‑school.

How it looks going forward

Right now (mid‑2020s):

  • 3rd round: no VAR, even if the match is at a VAR‑ready stadium.
  • 4th round: same — no VAR anywhere.
  • 5th round to the final: VAR in every tie, regardless of venue.

The FA has framed this as a balance between:

  • Fairness between big and small clubs
  • Financial and practical realities of installing VAR everywhere
  • Fans’ mixed feelings about the tech in a tradition‑heavy competition

So the reason there’s “no VAR in the FA Cup” — at least in the rounds people talk about most — is a deliberate choice: one part cost and logistics, one part trying to keep the playing field level across the whole tournament.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.