FA Cup: English Federation approves use of artificial turf at all matches

The FA (Football Association) will authorise all matches from all rounds of the FA Cup to be played on artificial turf as of the 2014-15 season, they announced on 24/03/2014.

Until now, in matches as of the "first round proper" (marking the entry of third and fourth divisions professional clubs), synthetic grounds were prohibited.

"Clubs are increasingly seeing the benefits of using third-generation surfaces across the football pyramid and clubs who play on those surfaces can now retain home advantage in the competition," said Alex Horne, general secretary of the FA.

• The use of artificial turf has been prohibited in England in the Premier League (D1), the Football League (D2, D3 and D4) and Conference Division (D5 and D6).
• "No match shall be played on an artificial surface," indicates Article I.29 in the Rules of the Premier League.
• The ban on synthetic turf in English professional divisions was passed in 1995.
• 4 English professional clubs used synthetic pitches in the 1980's: Queens Park Rangers, Luton Town, Oldham Athletic and Preston North End.
• Conference clubs (D5 and D6…