FIFA REJECT 39 GAME PLAN

There will not be 39 games in a Premier League season after FIFA's executive committee unanimously opposed plans to host an extra round of games all around the world.

The Premier League had unveiled the plans back in February, to widespread derision from the footballing community.

But now Sepp Blatter has confirmed that FIFA will not support the idea, which aimed to take competitive Premier League games to five different cities worldwide by 2011.

The FA have already rejected the proposal, chairman Lord Triesman suggesting the plan was "unsustainable".

FA Cup: The Year of the Underdog

The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well after an extraordinary weekend left only one top flight team in the last four for the first time in 100 years.

Portsmouth upset the odds by beating Manchester United 1-0 with a Sully Muntari penalty, and Barnsley, following on from their Anfield win in the last round, defeated holders Chelsea.

Cardiff's comfortable 2-0 win over Middlesborough left Pompey as the only Premier League side still in the Cup, while West Brom thrashed Bristol Rovers to join them in the last four.

Man United and Chelsea both fielded strong sides and will be desperately dissappointed to miss out on the end of season trip to Wembley.

But few can deny that is refreshing to see the final stages competed amongst clubs outside the 'Big Four'.

Portsmouth are now odds-on favourites to lift the trophy but in this year of the underdog, anything really good happen.

The magic of the FA Cup is well and truly back.