[2] On 8 July 2011, the FA announced that 763 clubs had been accepted, which remains, as of 2023/24, the record number of entrants.
The competition was overshadowed by the collapse of Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba during their sixth round match with Tottenham Hotspur.
Muamba went into cardiac arrest on the pitch and, following failed attempts to resuscitate him, was taken to the London Chest Hospital, where he went on to recover despite his heart stopping for over 75 minutes.
The winners of the competition would have earned a place in the group stage of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.
Salisbury City, from the sixth tier, were the lowest ranked club in the third round proper.
The draw was made live on ITV1 and ESPN on 29 January 2012, with the ties scheduled to be played on the weekend of 18–19 February 2012.
Crawley Town were the lowest-ranked team in the fifth round for the second season running and the only club remaining from the fourth tier of the English league system.
The draw for the sixth round took place on 19 February 2012 following the match between Stevenage and Tottenham Hotspur.
[22] Leicester City were the lowest-ranked team in the sixth round, and were the only club remaining from the second tier of the English league system.