The 2012-13 season will see artificial pitches allowed in all competitions run by The Football Association for the very first time.

The new ruling, passed by The FA Cup Committee on Thursday, means that artificial pitches will make their debut in The FA Cup with Budweiser from August and will be allowed up to and including the Fourth Qualifying Round of the competition, providing they are registered with The Football Association.

The FA’s Competition’s Manager, Steve Clark, explained the pitch protocol for clubs playing beyond the Fourth Qualifying Round of The FA Cup: “In the Competition Proper, all ties must be played on natural grass pitches.

“If any club with an artificial pitch reaches the First Round Proper and is drawn at home, then they will need to switch to a ground of a club who are both an FA Cup entrant and have a natural grass pitch,” added Clark. 

Other FA competitions to allow artificial pitches are The FA Carlsberg Trophy, FA Carlsberg Vase, Sunday Cup, Women’s FA Cup, County Youth Cup and the Qualifying Rounds of The FA Youth Cup.

FA Cup Rules (pdf)