25 Jan 2009

Football Association to act after Fergie's ruminations

5:40 pm on 25 January 2009

The English FA will act to amend an old FA Cup rule so that leading clubs cannot avoid replays if their original ties end in a draw.

An FA spokesman says the law is likely to be changed after Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was widely reported by British newspapers to have considered invoking it to avoid a replay with Tottenham Hotspur if their fourth-round tie ended in a draw. In the event United won 2-1.

United issued an official statement on their website denying the club had any intention of invoking the rule.