LONDON (REUTERS) - The English Football Association, Premier League and English Football League announced on Friday (June 8) that they would implement a two-week, mid-season break in February from the 2019-20 season onwards.

Premier League matches will still be played every weekend over the period, the FA said in a statement, with five games being held on the first weekend and five on the second.

As a result, FA Cup fifth-round matches will be moved to mid-week and fifth-round replays will be replaced by games which end in a draw going to extra-time and penalties.

The introduction of a winter break brings the English fixture calendar more in line with the top leagues in Germany, France, Italy and Spain.