Premier League fans often find themselves counting down the days for the international break to conclude, eager for the return of club football. However, this weekend will see only seven top-flight sides in action – and not in league competition. Instead, domestic football resumes with the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Championship club Preston joins Manchester City, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Bournemouth, and Brighton in their quest to keep trophy dreams alive. At this stage of the campaign, it's common for FA Cup fixtures to run alongside Premier League games over the same weekend. This year, however, that won't be happening, leaving the bulk of top-tier clubs twiddling their thumbs. This scheduling decision stems from an agreement between the Premier League and the Football Association. Below, Express Football delves into the specifics.
Premier League Agreement
A six-year contract between the FA and the Premier League, which took effect this season, guarantees that every round of the Emirates FA Cup is scheduled on a weekend. Previously, the fifth-round matches had been midweek fixtures for five straight years.
Under this arrangement, the fourth, fifth, and quarter-final rounds are now played in isolation, free from Premier League matches for the first time. Furthermore, the FA Cup Final will also enjoy exclusive billing.
Slated for the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, the Wembley showpiece will not clash with any top-tier fixtures, ensuring it remains the primary viewing event. FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: "The Emirates FA Cup is our biggest asset and generates over 60 per cent of our revenue to invest into the game, so it is critical to secure a strong format for the future.
"This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar.
"The new schedule ensures the magic of the Cup is protected and enhanced, while working for the whole of the English game. The longer summer period also allows a much-needed player break before the start of the next season."
Who is playing in the FA Cup?
The FA Cup quarter-final matches are as follows:
Saturday, 12.15pm: Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Saturday, 5.15pm: Brighton vs Nottingham Forest
Sunday, 1.30pm: Preston vs Aston Villa
Sunday, 4.30pm: Bournemouth vs Manchester City
When does the Premier League return?
Premier League fixtures resume on Tuesday, April 1, with three matches on the schedule. Wolves will take on West Ham, Arsenal face Fulham, and Nottingham Forest battle Manchester United. The rest of the round will unfold across Wednesday and Thursday.