Yahoo Sport 
Winter break from 2019-20 confirmed with FA Cup fifth round moved to midweek
The Football Association and the Premier League have confirmed a winter break will kick in from next year – with big changes to the FA Cup coming.
The two-week mid-season break will take place in February from the 2019-20 campaign, it has been announced.
The FA say that it will be structured to ensure that Premier League matches would still be played every weekend over that period.
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But it means big changes to the FA Cup, with the fifth round moved to midweek for the first time.
In a decision unlikely to prove popular with lower league clubs who need the finance the FA Cup brings, potentially lucrative fifth round replays are to be scrapped.
Both Premier League and international managers have campaigned for a winter break, demanding England fall into line with other nations like Spain, Italy, Germany and France.
There are currently no plans for the EFL to follow suit and a similar rest period for Championship, League One and League Two players is not on the agenda.
FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “This is a significant moment for English football and one that we believe will greatly benefit both club and country.
Not so much a winter break as a weekend off. But all Prem clubs will have one in February from 2019-20 season onwards. 5 game on one weekend, 5 on the next. FA Cup 5th round to be midweek with no replays. A 2nd weekend off would have been better but this is a welcome step forward
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) June 8, 2018
“It’s no secret that we have a very congested fixture calendar and over recent years we have been working with the whole game to find a solution.
“Today’s announcement proves that football can come together for the good of the game. We have also found a way to give the players a much needed mid-season break, whilst keeping the much-loved Christmas schedule in place.
“As we head into summer international tournaments in the future we are sure that this mid-season break will prove to be a valuable addition for our players.”
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Outgoing Richard Scudamore, the Premier League’s executive chairman, added: “We have been discussing the football calendar with The FA and EFL for several months, including ways we can work together to ease fixture congestion, keep the Premier League action going right through the season and provide a mid-season player break.
“We are very pleased to have an outcome that will include an exciting first for fans – a full fixture programme split over two weekends with all matches broadcast live in the UK.”
