The FA Cup could be set for a huge shakeup, with replays and the showpiece weekend final set to be axed.
Massive changes could be on the horizon for the 152-year-old competition, impacting clubs at all levels of English football, as the Premier League presents an offer to the Football Association (FA) to sell overseas TV rights for the FA Cup for a decade starting from the 2024-25 season.
The FA Cup faces concerns over its significance, prompting the potential for significant alterations. Replays have already been eliminated from the fifth round onward, but under the new deal, the FA Cup would have to abandon them entirely, as reported by the Daily Mail (via the Mirror).
This move is expected to infuriate lower-league teams, who have often relied on lucrative away matches to secure substantial financial rewards. Furthermore, early rounds may be scheduled on midweek dates to avoid conflicting with league fixtures.
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Another aspect of the proposed changes would involve the elimination of the traditional FA Cup final weekend. Currently, the iconic event takes place as a standalone fixture at Wembley, with the most recent final featuring a memorable Manchester derby clash as City beat United 2-1. However, the Premier League wishes to stage the final alongside regular league matches.
According to the current proposition, the FA Cup final would be played on the penultimate Saturday of the season, with the remaining fixtures scheduled for Sunday. This arrangement could provoke uproar, as several clubs might be forced to accommodate an additional fixture late in the season if they reach the final.
Additionally, domestic TV rights, presently held by ITV and BBC, may be included in the overseas deal. In exchange for these transformative measures, the Premier League would offer an increased payment to the FA, providing further funding for grassroots football.
Previously, cautionary voices within the FA have expressed reservations about selling TV rights to the Premier League. Former chairman David Bernstein warned against compromising the FA Cup's autonomy, telling the Times: "It is vital the FA maintains complete control of the FA Cup. We have already seen the loss of cup replays and the FA Cup being squeezed, and if the international rights are taken over by the Premier League, this will be another sign of the weakening of the competition."
Bernstein added: "The FA Cup has suffered because of the success of the Premier League and European competitions — no one can pretend it has the same status as 20 or 30 years ago. Even if it means more money than the FA could get elsewhere, it puts more authority into the hands of the Premier League.
“One of the key issues behind the setting up of an independent regulator is the power of the Premier League and to ensure there is balance, and this would make it even more powerful when it comes to determining fixtures.”
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