Alious**Chelsea Set for Double Showdown with Brighton as FA Cup Tie Takes Center Stage**
Chelsea are gearing up for a crucial trip to the south coast, where they’ll face Brighton twice within the span of six days. The first clash comes on Saturday night in the FA Cup, followed by a Premier League encounter on Friday, February 14, with both matches set to take place at the Amex Stadium.
The stakes are high in the FA Cup tie, with a place in the fifth round up for grabs. Chelsea will be eager to advance as they look to end their FA Cup drought, having not lifted the trophy since their 2018 triumph under Antonio Conte.
**Brighton Aim to Bounce Back After Nottingham Forest Humiliation**
For Brighton, this match presents an opportunity to turn the page after a disastrous 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend—a result that shocked fans and pundits alike. Manager Fabian Hürzeler has been quick to address the setback, emphasizing the importance of reflection without overreaction.
**“We’ve thoroughly analyzed the game,”** Hürzeler said. **“We were honest with ourselves, had individual discussions, and identified areas to improve. One bad result shouldn’t define our season. We believe we’re still on the right track.”**
As both sides prepare for the knockout clash, fans should be aware of key differences in the rules compared to the Premier League, particularly regarding extra time, penalties, and VAR.
### **FA Cup Rules: What You Need to Know for Brighton vs Chelsea**
**Extra Time & Penalties:**
If the match is tied after 90 minutes, it will proceed to extra time. Should the deadlock persist after extra time, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout. Unlike some earlier rounds of domestic competitions, there will be no replays—this tie will be decided on the night.
**VAR Protocol:**
VAR will **NOT** be in use for Saturday’s fixture. The FA has confirmed that Video Assistant Referee technology will only be implemented from the fifth round of the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup onwards.
In an official statement released in December 2024, the FA clarified:
**“VAR will only be used in the Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards. It will be active for every match from that stage through to the Final at Wembley Stadium. Due to infrastructure, staffing, and cost considerations, VAR will not be in operation during the Third and Fourth Rounds.”**
This decision aims to maintain consistency in officiating across all fixtures at the same stage of the competition, ensuring that clubs face a level playing field, regardless of the venue.
With Chelsea aiming to reignite their FA Cup ambitions and Brighton determined to bounce back, Saturday’s clash promises high stakes, intense action, and plenty of drama—even without VAR watching over every moment.
Alious
