The Football Association has apologised after a live broadcast of the Women’s FA Cup third-round draw experienced significant technical problems.
Many of the participating clubs and their fans, especially those in the southern half of the draw, were left unsure who they had been drawn to face for nearly half an hour, after the stream broadcasting the draw froze for live viewers during the southern section of the draw.
The draw ceremony had got under way at approximately 11am on Monday, live on the social media platform Instagram, conducted by the co-presenters of the Counter Pressed podcast, and the northern section was broadcasted normally, before the interruption.
The full draw was posted on the competition’s official social channels shortly after 11.30am along with an apology, which read: “We apologise for the technical difficulties during broadcast.”
The FA said: “We apologise for the technical difficulties with the live stream for the Women’s FA Cup third-round draw. Despite repeated testing of the internet connection in advance, there was disruption to the live stream in the latter half of the draw. The full video and audio of the draw will be made available on the Adobe Women’s FA Cup social channels.”
Many fans and staff members at clubs involved in the draw expressed their frustration online, with Bristol Rovers WFC posting on X to say “Would love to know who we got”, while the third-tier club Lewes simply uploaded an image of a circling, loading icon.
North
Chester-le-Street v Stoke City or Loughborough Lightning; Kidderminster Harriers or Stourbridge v Blackburn Rovers; Wolves v Shrewsbury Town; Liverpool Feds v Sheffield United; Newcastle United v Hull City or Middlesbrough; West Brom v St Helens or Cheadle Town Stingers; Birmingham City v Durham Women; Sunderland v Huddersfield Town; Rugby Borough v Mancunian Unity; Long Itchington or Nottingham Forest v Burnley or Bradford City
South
Portsmouth v Stevenage or Luton Town; Ipswich Town v Bournemouth; London City Lionesses v Gwalia United; Brentford v Fulham; Oxford United v Bristol Rovers; Charlton Athletic v Lewes; Southampton FC Women v Bristol City; Cheltenham Town v Norwich City; Exeter City v Worthing; London Bees v QPR or Saltdean United
Ties to be played Sunday 8 December
It is understood the issue related to a wifi problem despite the connection having been successfully tested prior to the draw ceremony. Instagram user @clairegreen1966 wrote: “That draw was embarrassing. We deserve better.” Bristol City fan Shahan Miah said: “Next time don’t do the draw live on Instagram please.”
The 11 clubs in the Women’s Championship entered the competition at this third-round stage and the top two sides in that division, leaders Birmingham City and second-placed Durham, have been pitted against each other in the Cup. Another all-Championship tie sees Southampton host Bristol City. The draw will also see sixth-tier Brentford play at home against neighbours Fulham, from tier five.
The ties will be played on Sunday 8 December.
