FA Cup replay changes show 'total lack of respect'

The champions of the men's FA Cup final in 2023 were Manchester City.

The rearrangements made to the FA Cup have led to allegations against the Football Association and Premier League for having no regard for the football system.

From the 2024-25 season onwards, Emirates FA Cup replays will no longer be conducted from the initial stage, and starting from then, all competition rounds will take place on weekends.

Tranmere Rovers, a club in League Two, expressed their strong disapproval of the deplorable modifications.

The chairman of Peterborough, Darragh MacAnthony, issued a warning about a potential negative impact on English football that may arise from the situation. This outcome could result in a rift or disagreement within the sport.

According to Tranmere's statement, no discussion occurred with Football League, National League, or grassroots clubs. These organizations view the competition as more than a chance to make lasting memories for fans. It also serves as a crucial source of revenue.

The choice and the manner in which it was made displays a complete disregard for the hierarchy of football and its supporters.

"We strongly disapprove of the modifications and suggest the FA halt them at once until all those involved in the sport have been adequately consulted."

Another team in League Two, Grimsby Town, also requested that the changes be put on hold until a discussion had been conducted. They emphasized that such modifications should not be decided by only a few individuals, as it could hinder the aspirations of numerous people.

Farnborough, a team from the National League South, made a statement criticizing the decision to halt replays when Premier League clubs are not even involved in the competition. They found the decision quite odd.

At present, the FA Cup does not allow for matches to be replayed from the fifth round onwards. However, the FA has announced that they plan to eradicate replays from an earlier stage due to new developments in the calendar caused by the expanded Uefa competitions.

The Europa Conference League was introduced by Uefa in 2021. In the following season, the number of teams participating in the group stage of the Champions League will increase from 32 to 36. Additionally, Fifa declared their plans to enlarge the Club World Cup to 32 teams by 2025.

The Football Supporters' Association (FSA) understood that the football schedule was challenging for elite clubs, but the news did not receive a positive response from fans across the nation.

According to the FSA, supporters have expressed anxiety that the verdict would significantly lower "the enchantment of the tournament". The FSA has communicated these worries with the FA.

Trevor Birch, the EFL's top executive, expressed his frustration and disappointment at the announcement. He remarked that it represents yet another blow to the EFL clubs, who are already struggling to maintain their revenue streams in the face of an ever-widening financial divide between the top-tier clubs and those further down the pyramid.

He said, "We will be talking about how this affects clubs in the EFL and trying to find the right way to be compensated."

The alterations are a result of a fresh six-year deal struck between the FA and the Premier League.

According to the FA, the Premier League has agreed to give an extra £33m to support grassroots football. This is in addition to the £100m already given to various charitable causes each season.

Peterborough's chairman, MacAnthony, expressed his confusion towards the decision made by the Premier League or the FA, stating that he was completely unaware of their intentions with this move.

According to the statement made on X.external-link, we have reached a point where major players do not feel the need to inform us or hold discussions regarding significant alterations.

He said that if this is an indication of what is to happen, then brace yourself for a serious conflict within English football that will be attributed to a single group in our sport. He further explained that this state of affairs is not beneficial for our business.

According to Phil Wallace, who is the chairman of Stevenage, a club in League One, getting rid of replays would put the National League and EFL clubs at a great economic disadvantage.

On BBC Radio 5 Live, he stated that if one takes into account the perspective of the Premier League and its players and the need to safeguard them, as well as the England game and other factors, then one can comprehend the reasoning behind the decision.

Football is not only limited to the Premier League, it encompasses the entire nation along with the 72 EFL clubs and the National League.

Picture a scenario where a lower division team in England draws a team from the top division in the country and manages to secure a tie while playing at their home stadium. That is what makes the FA Cup so special, but unfortunately, such events will no longer occur in the future.

Game Guardians Disrespecting FA Cup

According to Pat Nevin, a former player for Chelsea, Everton, and Tranmere in the UK, having a cup replay for a team in a lower league could generate sufficient funds to sustain the club for a period ranging from two to four years.

The head of communications for Truro City, a club in the National League, expressed the same opinion in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.

According to Davies, the FA Cup is the most important tournament in English elimination football. He also believes that the FA – who are responsible for overseeing football in the country – are showing a lack of respect towards it.

I believe that even with the uproar from the public, there will be no alteration made.

It's so disappointing that starting from next season, we won't be able to make as much money anymore if we face Exeter City at our club during the FA Cup and get a tied score. This opportunity has always been really beneficial for a small club like ours, and it's unfortunate that it won't happen again.

According to Frank May, who serves as the head of the Cray Valley Paper Mills team in the eighth division, their upcoming rematch against Charlton Athletic, who plays in the League One division, in this season's tournament has significantly increased their visibility and exposure. This has elevated their reputation and placed them in the spotlight, which is a very positive outcome for their team.

He informed BBC Radio 5 Live that various individuals across the globe had been offering to purchase counterfeit clothing. Such an opportunity was previously beyond our imagination.

This approach is not acceptable. The FA Cup is renowned around the world, and if this regulation had been enforced earlier, countless unforgettable moments would have been lost.

What Changes Were Made To The FA Cup?

The FA Cup's preliminary stages will retain replays if matches are tied after 90 minutes. These stages involve teams from the fifth to the 10th tiers of English football battling for 32 places in the first round.

The initial stage of the FA Cup welcomes teams of the League One and League Two, while the Championship and Premier League teams step in from the third round.

Besides eliminating replays, there will be additional modifications such as the fourth and fifth rounds, along with the quarter-finals, being scheduled without overlapping with any Premier League matches, marking a significant change.

The next stage of the competition will take place over a longer period of time, starting from Friday and lasting until Wednesday.

The final game of the FA Cup has been rescheduled to the second-to-last weekend of the Premier League campaign.

The big game is set for a Saturday, and it won't collide with any Premier League matches. The Friday before the final will also be free of matches so everyone can concentrate on getting ready for the important event.