For the first time in 127 years and over 50,000 FA Cup ties in England, the Football Association sanctioned a replay even though one of the sides had won the previous encounter. In 1999 Arsenal beat Sheffield United 2-1 in a fifth-round tie with a highly contentious winner. At 1-1 United keeper Alan Kelly had put the ball out of play to allow an injured team-mate to be treated. At the resumption and in the interests of fair play and sporting practice Arsenal’s Ray Parlour threw the ball to Kelly, but Kanu intercepted and passed for Overmars to score. There were massed protests by United and Arsenal readily agreed to a replay, which Arsenal also won 2-1.
