FIFA last night gave the go-ahead at the eleventh hour for Arsenal and Sheffield United to play their FA Cup fifth-round tie again tonight, but football's world governing body came in for stinging criticism form United manager Steve Bruce after delaying their decision until 24 hours before the scheduled kick-off.

Bruce could not disguise his relief after the FIFA withdrew its threat to cancel the controversial fifth round rematch at Highbury. But United's manager was furious FIFA had left it until the last moment before making their announcement. "This was the only decision to make, but I find it incredible that something of such importance should be decided on the night before the game," said Bruce.

"It's just amazing that FIFA felt compelled to do something like this 24 hours before such a crucial Cup tie. It makes it even more astonishing that hey have known our comments, and the view of the FA, for over a week. It's quite farcical because if FIFA had something to say, why didn't they say it a week ago?"

The game was originally staged 10 days ago and was won 2-1 by Arsenal, but it was declared void because of the circumstances surrounding their second goal. United had kicked the ball out of play so Lee Morris could receive treatment for an injury but Marc Overmars scored from a pass by Arsenal substitute Nwankwo Kanu following a throw-in that their team-mate Ray Parlour had directed towards the United goalkeeper, Alan Kelly.

The English FA sanctioned Arsenal's offer to restage the match within an hour of the final whistle but, after initially saying they had no problem with the decision, FIFA decided it required further discussion.

"Thousands of our fans have bought tickets and paid to go down there, so it seems a bit late in the day to change the decision," Bruce added.

Republic of Ireland international Alan Kelly echoed his manager's views: "We're very pleased the game is going ahead because it is no more than we deserve," he said. "The people I feel sorry for are the supporters. They have had to book time off work and pay a lot of money for tickets and travelling, so this has been far from ideal for them. It would have been very hard on the fans if the game was called off.

Andy Nicholson, a spokesman for the club's Independent Fans' Association, said: "This is the correct decision and the only decision. It's ludicrous they even considered calling it off at such late notice. A week ago the present of FIFA was more than happy with the FA's decision. Then at short notice the general secretary gets involved and says he is going to take a look at the situation. It seems to me he is trying to justify his salary. FIFA make the FA look like the model of efficiency."

The reason FIFA could not make a quick decision on the issue which to everyone else was black and white was simply because it was way down the list of priorities on a busy agenda at their Zurich headquarters, FIFA House, in an affluent suburb of Zurich.

FA executive director David Davies said last night he was confident that FIFA would agree to the rematch. "We had no problems in taking the decision and as you know we took it very quickly because we thought it was a great opportunity for showing that when you have a slogan that `Fair Play Matters' you have a chance here tangibly to show it.

"That's why we moved as quickly as we did. FIFA, through their president Sepp Blatter, praised us immediately in what we had done and said it was a matter for the FA because no laws of the game had been broken.

"Equally we understood at the weekend when they (FIFA) said show us the competition rule under which you have acted as you have. We have shown them that first thing this morning, they are happy with what we have done, we are content tonight."

Bruce looks set to keep faith with the same side which started the original game against Arsenal.

Arsenal are without Martin Keown, Emmanuel Petit, Matthew Upson and Luis Boa Morte and Arsene Wenger anticipates another hard-fought encounter.

"Sheffield United defended well and played well on the break," Wenger said of the original fixture. "We had some problems to create space and I expect another difficult game. I want to go through. If we need another replay then we'll do it. I am sure it will be very tight."

Arsenal prepared as normal for the game as FIFA discussed the rematch, but manager Wenger said it had not been easy to focus.

"It has made things difficult," Wenger said. "For the whole day, the game was on an doff and the phone kept going. It was less difficult for the players because they didn't know. They just came in and said 'do we play or not?' Twenty-four-hours before a game this is not the best way."