The third and fourth rounds of the FA Cup will still involve replays

Football’s authorities are planning a formal announcement before the end of the season that there will be a winter break for clubs, after the FA’s agreement to play the entire FA Cup fifth round in midweek.

The FA’s council is to be updated with the plans, revealed by The Times earlier this year, at its meeting today. It follows an agreement by the FA with the Premier League and the English Football League. A joint announcement is expected within the next four weeks.

The two-week break will be introduced for the 2019-20 season — the first year of the new Premier League TV contract — and will be held in late January and early February. It will be staggered, however, so that not all