Usually no. In the FA Cup, a player may play for only one club in the same season, with one exception: after playing for one club in qualifying or in the competition proper, the player may play for a maximum of one other club in the competition proper, and still only for one club in any given round.
The starting rule
The basic position is simple: one player, one club, in one FA Cup season. For a player to be eligible for a tie, the club must also have applied to register the player by the registration deadline for that round, and have the registration approved before the match.
The exception needs to be read in full. It does not create a free right to appear for two clubs at any stage. It allows a player who has already appeared for one club in the qualifying competition or the competition proper to play for a maximum of one other club, only in the competition proper, and still only for one club in any given round.
Here are the core eligibility situations
| Situation | The rule |
|---|---|
| A player who has not played in the competition this season | Eligible, if registered to the club in time for the round |
| A player who has already played for another club | May play for a maximum of one other club, in the Competition Proper only, and for only one club in any given round |
| A player named as a substitute who did not come on | Treated as not having played in that tie |
| A replay or a rearranged tie | Eligible for the original tie and continuously registered to the club since it |
Substitutes, replays and rearranged ties
Being named on the bench does not count by itself. If a player is listed as a substitute and does not take part, that player is treated as not having played in that tie for the one-club rule.
A replay, or a tie that was postponed or abandoned and then rearranged, has two separate conditions that both apply. The player must have been eligible for the original tie, and the player’s registration with the club must have been continuous from the date of the original tie.
There is also a suspension point. If the player was ineligible for the original tie because of a suspension, that player may play in the replay or rearranged tie only once the suspension has been served.
The goalkeeper dispensation, who decides, and the Final
There is a narrow route for a club to seek permission outside those replay or rearranged-tie conditions. The club may ask the Professional Game Board to allow the player to take part only where the player is a goalkeeper and is registered to the club on the date the request is made.
The request has its own requirements. It must be made in writing to The Association, it must be made no later than 24 hours before the scheduled kick-off, and it must include evidence for the reason. The decision is at the Professional Game Board’s absolute discretion.
The Final has a separate eligibility line. A player is eligible for the Final only if that player was eligible to play for the club in the semi-finals.
FAQ
What does cup-tied mean in the FA Cup?
It means a player is generally restricted to one club in the competition during the same season. The FA Cup exception is limited: at most one other club, only in the competition proper, and still only one club in any given round.
Does being named as a substitute count as playing in the FA Cup?
No. A player named as a substitute who does not take part is treated as not having played in that tie, for the purposes of the rule that limits a player to one club in the season.
What happens if a club plays an ineligible player in the FA Cup?
The Professional Game Board may remove the club from the competition and may impose other penalties as well. Whether the club is removed, and what other penalty follows, is for that body to decide.
Who decides if a player is eligible for the FA Cup?
Ordinary eligibility follows the competition rules: one club per season, a registration applied for by the round deadline and approved before the match, and, for a replay or rearranged tie, continuous registration since the original tie. Where a goalkeeper request is made, or where an ineligible player has been used, the Professional Game Board is the decision-maker.
