2017–18 FA Cup
The 2017–18 FA Cup (also known as the FA Challenge Cup) was the 137th edition of the oldest recognised football tournament in the world. It was sponsored by Emirates, and known as The Emirates FA Cup for sponsorship purposes. 737 clubs were accepted into the tournament. It began with the Extra preliminary round on 5 August 2017, and concluded with the final on 19 May 2018. The winners qualified for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League group stage.
| Football Association Challenge Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Country | England Wales |
| Dates | 5 August – 14 October 2017 (qualifying competition) 3 November 2017 – 19 May 2018 (main competition) |
| Teams | 737 (overall) 645 (qualifying competition) 124 (main competition) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Chelsea (8th title) |
| Runner-up | Manchester United |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 149 |
| Goals scored | 432 (2.9 per match) |
| Attendance | 1,875,938 (12,590 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Will Grigg (7 goals) |
| (Note: All statistics do not include qualifying play-offs) | |
The third-round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace on 8 January 2018 was the first competitive game in England where video assistant referee (VAR) technology was available, although it was not used.
Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City became the first player to score a goal awarded by a video assistant referee (VAR) in competitive English football as Leicester beat Fleetwood Town 2–0 in the FA Cup third-round replay on 16 January 2018. Referee Jon Moss initially disallowed the goal for offside but he consulted with video official Mike Jones, who told him Nathan Pond's trailing foot was keeping Iheanacho onside. The goal was awarded 67 seconds after it hit the back of the net.
Craig Pawson became the first referee in English football to watch a video recording at the sideline in the fourth round tie between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion on 27 January 2018. He awarded a penalty to Liverpool.
Premier League side Arsenal were the defending champions, but they were eliminated by Nottingham Forest in the third round on 7 January 2018.