FA Cup: Men’s FA Cup to go on as scheduled while the Women’s edition has been put on hold

The Women’s FA Cup has been restricted from going ahead in compliance with the four-week national lockdown in England, despite the men’s competition being given an approval to continue as planned.

On Tuesday, the FA confirmed that the 10 non-elite teams competing in the first round of the men’s FA Cup will be allowed to compete as from 6-9 November.

The women’s first-round is not regarded (classed) as elite, according to government guidelines and its original schedule for 15 November 2020 would not be achievable. The earliest possible return date for the competition will now be2 December 2020, when lockdown restrictions are due to be eased.

Clubs below the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Championship will not be allowed to train or even play matches for the duration of the lockdown. All 24 women’s sides in the FA Cup first round from the fourth tier or below are also included.

According to the lockdown rules, which came into effect on Thursday, all adult and children’s grassroots football are to be put on hold in England during the lockdown.

Elite sports, however, will be allowed to continue behind closed doors.

Manchester City women side beat their Everton counterparts 3-1 in extra-time to win the 50th Women’s FA Cup final behind closed doors at Wembley on Sunday.

The competition was originally scheduled to finish in May but was delayed for over six months at the quarter-final stage because of the pandemic.

Women’s FA Cup first-round draw

• FC United of Manchester Women vs Fleetwood Town Wrens LFC or Liverpool Feds LFC
• Chester-Le-Street Town Ladies FC vs Brighouse Town Women FC
• Newcastle United Women FC vs Barnsley Women’s FC
• Wolverhampton Wanderers WFC vs Stourbridge FC Ladies
• Lincoln City Women FC vs Solihull Moors Women FC
• Wem Town Ladies FC vs Boldmere St Michaels Women FC
• Harlow Town Ladies FC vs Ipswich Town LFC
• Kent Football Utd LFC or AFC Wimbledon Ladies vs Luton Town Ladies FC/ Enfield Town LFC
• Billericay Town LFC vs Maidenhead United LFC
• Eastbourne Town LFC or Leyton Orient WFC vs Actonians LFC
• AFC Bournemouth Women vs Southampton FC Women
• Exeter City Women FC vs Cheltenham Town LFCe4521