“The dreams of so many should not be denied by so few” – Premier League led FA Cup changes prompt a furious response
Changes to the 152 year-old FA Cup competition were announced yesterday. Heralded as “a strong format for the future” by the FA, the changes have been slammed by multiple clubs and organisation after it was revealed the changes were part of a deal with the Premier League.
The changes controversially include an end to all replays from the first round proper stage onwards and an earlier date for the traditional end-of-season FA Cup final.
The move means an extended summer break for the Premier League who have had to cram more lucrative European fixtures into their season.
As a result have agreed to provide an extra £33m per year to support the grassroots game (read into that what you will).
Here’s some of the reaction to the news.
What they said…
This agreement ensures the magic of the Cup is protected and enhanced, whilst working for the whole of the English game…
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham
The FA and the Premier League have worked to deliver more exclusive weekends without compromising the excitement of knockout football…
Premier League head Richard Masters
Whilst the League had previously been involved in discussions over the future of the calendar, these were predicated on the agreement of a new financial deal with the Premier League for EFL clubs which has not progressed. This is frustrating and disappointing given the calendar is a shared asset across football and as we have consistently said a whole game approach is required to find solutions to complex fixture scheduling challenges…
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch
The dreams of so many should not be denied by so few…
Grimsby Town statement
The process is an absolute disgrace, a deal concocted in the corridors of power. This is not just about the cash, it’s about the enjoyment experienced by fans of lower league clubs, who don’t get many high days and holidays. This deal reflects the unrestrained march of mammon in football and it will destroy the game…
Mark Palios, executive chair Tranmere Rovers
Why would the hapless FA scrap early round replays that can be lucrative to minnows? Against EFL clubs? I expect nothing less of Richard Masters and Co…
Accrington owner Andy Holt
We are now at the stage where the big boys don’t even bother to notify us/talk through proper changes. If this is a sign of things to come then expect a full on fallout within English football coming soon all caused by one faction of our game. (The situation is) not healthy for our industry…
Peterborough Utd owner Darragh McAnthony posting on social media
Scrapping FA Cup replays from the first round proper deprives lower league clubs of a much-needed source of revenue. This is a short-sighted move that does nothing to strengthen the game. It is another nail in the coffin for the already crumbling football pyramid…
Niall Cooper from the Fair Game coalition
The game is dominated by the big boys, and the big boys don’t want FA Cup replays, do they? There have been clubs that have had FA Cup runs and replays that have financially benefitted themselves for the next three, four, five years. I am a traditionalist and I would have liked to have seen it kept the same but the game is moving on with more minutes in a game and extra games that people are trying to push back against…
Chris Wilder, Sheff Utd manager
It is absolutely ridiculous. European football is a joke. It’s all about money!
Millwall manager Neil Harris
To suspend replays when the Premier League clubs haven’t even come into the competition seems even more bizarre…
National League South club Farnborough’s statement
Football’s not about just that, the Premier League, it’s about the whole country and the 72 EFL (clubs) and the National League. Imagine when a National League club draws a Premier League club and gets a draw at home. That is the magic of the FA Cup and that won’t happen any more…
Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace
The FA Cup is the jewel in the crown of English knockout football. The FA, the supposed guardians of our game, seem to be treating it with disdain…
Truro City’s head of communications Gareth Davies
This isn’t the way to go, the FA Cup is the world famous FA Cup and there are so many memorable moments that would not have been seen if this rule was announced years ago…
Frank May, chairman of Cray Valley Paper Mills
It is yet another eloquent example of the 19th-century governance that means that football simply cannot regulate itself and needs the Independent Football Regulator to have real teeth. We condemn the changes wholeheartedly and urge The FA to suspend them immediately until all stakeholders in the game are properly consulted…
Tranmere Rovers statement
The way this has come about shows the Premier League clubs’ egregious lack of care or consideration for anybody but themselves…
Football writer Steve Chicken
Seven hundred and twenty-nine teams compete in the FA Cup. Why is its format being dictated by the Premier League who represent circa 3% of them? Protest is needed!
Tranmere Rovers vice chair Nicola Palios
The FA’s latest move reflects a further weakening of the game’s heritage and will only boost the argument for independent regulation…
Football writer Paul MacInnes
The excuse is ‘fixture congestion,’ which does not apparently stop most Premier League clubs darting off to the other side of the world to play each other in pre-season, nor this year – spectacularly – darting off to the other side at the end of the season to play more meaningless, commercially viable friendlies…
City AM editor Andy Silvester
Scrapping FA Cup replays shows the FA’s weakness – the only winners are the whining billionaire owners…
Football writer Luke Baker
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David Brown
19th April 2024 @ 10:07 am
Just wait and see……EPL clubs will use the so called extended summer break to play even more fixtures, and promote their merchandise with more lucrative tours of the U.S. China, SE Asia, and Australia.