When did the F.A. change the rules about fielding weakened teams?

[10ClarionSt]

It used to be the case that clubs HAD to play their strongest side available. I remember Leeds Utd being fined �5000 for fielding 11 reserves. When did this change? Does anyone know?

[Gromit]

The rules have not been changed, they have been reinterpreted. The origins of this was when Manchester United were unable to compete in the 2000 FA cup competition because FIFA had them playing a tournament abroad. United could not be in two places at the same time. They could have fielded a team in the FA cup, but it wouldn't have been their strongest, because that was abroad.

So United, as reigning holders did not enter the competition the following year. This greatly deminished both the competition and so the rule that prevented them from playing was subsequently relaxed.

[123everton]

This applies (or at least used to) to the league not the cup.
Tottenham got fined for it too I seem to remember.

[mark01]

Steve are you sure it was the 74 final.

Liverpool only used 13 players for the last dozen league games that season!

[Davethedog]

In this day and age what is a weakened team?

Next Sunday Man U will put out a team, no Ronaldo, No Rooney, No Van der Sar etc yet the team they put on the park will probably contain 6 internationals and all of them will have played before.

Most premiership sides can put out a team missing players and you would have to wonder how weakened it is.