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Will VAR be used in Everton vs Peterborough FA Cup? Premier League change explained

A general view of Goodison Park ahead of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Nottingham Forest FC.
-Credit:James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images


The FA Cup returns for the first time this season as the third round gets underway this week. Everton kick-off proceedings tonight (Thursday) as they take on League One side Peterborough United at Goodison Park (7.45pm kick-off).

A win for the Toffees could relieve some of the pressure on Sean Dyche amid talks over his future at the club. Everton are winless in their last five games, having scored just once in those outings.

The results leave them in 16th place in the Premier League table, one point above Ipswich and Wolves in 18th and 17th place, respectively. The club may find relief in attention turning away from league matters over the weekend.

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A move away from Premier League action will also see a change in terms of the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). It was confirmed last month that the technology won’t be used in the competition in the third or fourth round.

In a statement, the FA Confirmed: “Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will only be used in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards.

“It has been agreed that VAR will be utilised for every match in the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium, and will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds. VAR has only been used in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation. This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition.”

The implementation of VAR made headlines this week, with referee Stuart Attwell making the first in stadium announcement in the Carabao Cup semi-final between Tottenham and Liverpool on Wednesday night. The semi-final stages was the first time that VAR was used in this season’s Carabao Cup with the technology not used for Everton’s second round against Doncaster and third round vs Southampton.