THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION has significantly increased the FA Cup prize money after replays were controversially axed. EFL and non-league clubs were outraged back in April after a joint decision

The Football Association announced in April it was scrapping replays from the first round proper in the current campaign onwards as the domestic game seeks to tackle fixture congestion

All the extra funding for the FA Cup is concentrated on the first three rounds in a financial boost to lower-league clubs.

An extra £2.44million in prize money is being awarded in the first three rounds of this season's FA Cup to help compensate clubs for the loss of replays.

The Football Association has agreed to put an additional £2.34m in the FA Cup prize pot after replays were controversially scrapped by the competition.