The Football Association is prepared to sell the FA Cup’s international media rights to the Premier League in a huge commercial shake-up for the English game. The move could mean the league assumes control of the competition’s scheduling and would be viewed in some quarters as the Football Association selling off its crown jewels.
It may be viewed lower down the divisions as a power-grab that gives the top flight further clout over Football League clubs in determining aspects of the domestic fixture list. The viability of replays and the sanctity of weekend fixtures are issues that repeatedly surface in discussions among clubs.
Although the FA initially put its FA Cup rights on the market in January, it retendered them on Monday in a broader span of territories and made them available over an indefinite period. The Guardian understands a deal is close with the Premier League, although the FA is adamant the tender remains live. Industry sources have questioned whether such a deal would be viable if an independent regulator for English football were in situ.
The FA had been on the brink of a four-year deal with the agency Infront for a portion of the FA Cup’s broadcast territories outside of the UK, believed to be worth $37.5m (£29.5m) per season. It would have taken over the rights to Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe, held by IMG.
An existing deal with IMG for rights in North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia-Pacific and eastern Europe – due to expire at the end of 2023-24 bar the Caribbean and North American portions, which expire at the end of 2027-28 – was worth $120m annually. The FA also has a contract with Pitch International for rights in western Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Infront was selected as the FA’s preferred bidder in May and is believed to be furious at its decision to withdraw from negotiations and retender. It is thought a deal with the Premier League would go further towards plugging the financial hole left by the expiry of the current deals, with the prospect of greater redistribution of funds down the football pyramid.
Domestic rights to the FA Cup will be made available from 2025-26 when existing deals expire.
