FA Cup replays scrapped

[darren woolley]

Just a shame they can't leave the greatest domestic cup competition in the world alone.

[Nev]

UEFA have always been jealous that the greatest cup competition in the world wasn't theirs. Hence the long term aim of overshadowing it via the moving of the CL final to a Sat and increasing (for money as well) the amount of European games knowing full well that this impacts our domestic calendar.

[simon ward 50]

EFL clubs not consulted so have quite rightly kicked-off about this!

[VILLA MOLE]

EFL and FA trying to negotiate better cut of the TV money in exchange for ending replays to reduce  games , then you hear that agents took over £400 million in fees last year from the Premier League what a mess and imbalanced there is

[trinityoap]

It would serve the FA right if all teams from the championship and below boycotted it next season.

[Pete3206]

With no possibility of a replay, I can see lower league clubs sacrificing home advantage to Premier League clubs as it's the only way they maximise revenue.

[PeterWithesShin]

Pretty sure they can't do that any more. And if the home ground can't stage a game for safety reasons it goes to a neutral ground close to the home side.

[PeterWithesShin]

There's been a number of official responses from clubs along these lines

Tranmere Rovers condemn the disgraceful decision taken by The FA and the Premier League to change the format of the FA Cup, including the scrapping of replays.

There was no consultation with Football League clubs, National League clubs or grassroots clubs to whom the competition represents not only their best opportunity to create life-long memories for supporters but also a hugely important source of income. We also understand that FA Council members were not consulted about the changes.

The decision, and the way it was taken, demonstrate a total lack of respect for the football pyramid and its fans. Football belongs to all of us and decisions should not be taken in back room deals in which only the very wealthiest clubs are allowed to participate. 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.

[eamonn]

If a club outside the top two divisions is drawn at home to a PL team, give them the option to switch it. Won't that solve the issue?

And I hope Cov go on to win it this year.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Grrrr.

In ‘67 it took three games for Forest to beat Swindon in the fifth round. Some places in Swindon closed at lunchtime to give their supporters time to get to Villa Park for that second replay. The attendance was a tad under 53,000.

The Holte was given to Forest, Witton End to Swindon. The atmosphere was magical, Forest were a big team with a bunch of top players (John Barnwell and Joe Baker scored) as they ran out 3-0, but amazing stuff from Swindon (and their finances) to take them so far.

I saw very little of the game as at a little over five feet and the rammed Holte, I stood little chance. There was a lot of surging, and my feet regularly lost contact with the ground, but the Forest fans took care of me.

[eamonn]

What was the craic with that one - second replays were played at neutral grounds? Did we host many of those?!

[Nunkin1965]

Just a shame they can't leave the greatest domestic cup competition in the world alone.

Gone forever as we know it I'm afraid.
Maybe they should rename it The F*** Cup because its exactly whats happened to this piece of football history.

[LeonW]

Legohead talking absolute garbage again:

“Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his responsibility is to "protect our players".

"In the last two seasons, they have played with no breaks," Arteta said. "How they will have to play in the next two years, it's not healthy.”

Arsenal have been knocked out in the 3rd round for the past two season.

[Steve67]

I appreciate that we will be one of them next season, but this new ruling only helps the clubs in European action.  What, 7 clubs?  Bring back replays, let the smaller clubs earn some money.  The only other way is perhaps to ask the clubs to swap the fixture to the bigger ground, if it suits the smaller team financially and they wish to do it.

[PeterWithesShin]

On the flip side it may allow for more upsets. Let's say it's Walsall v Man U. Finishes 1-1 at Bescott which isn't impossible. Walsall have far more chance of winning a shootout than they do a replay at OT.

I'll add that i'd prefer replays, multiple replays if required. But that's because i'm old and I grew up with them.