Prince William urged to step in and ask FA to reverse ‘ridiculous’ decision that sparked nationwide backlash
PRINCE William has been urged to intervene and ask the FA to rethink scrapping FA Cup replays.
The Prince of Wales has been President of the FA since 2006, although it is a ceremonial position.
Why FA Cup changes are GOOD NEWS
By Martin Lipton
THE FA and Premier League should have done the deal to scrap FA Cup replays years ago.
No doubt traditionalists will moan but it is right that the competition has finally been brought into the 21st century.
Ending replays will bring extra sharpness and excitement to the ties, with the knowledge that there will be a winner, whether in 90 minutes, extra-time or penalties.
If big guns have a bad day, they are more likely to pay the price. Replays after draws give them a fall-back they do not deserve.
Giving the FA Cup total and absolute priority over four weekends – and ensuring there is no competing match on the day of the Final – will enhance the profile of a competition that was in danger of falling out of the spotlight.
And as long as the FA ensures a better split of the prize money fund, weighting it more towards the earlier rounds, and potentially a similar move with TV match money, there should be few losers.
Read more on the FA Cup by clicking here.
But amid the fan backlash to the decision to end replays from the first round proper stage from next season, he has been asked to get involved.
In a letter to the Prince, the lobby group “The People’s FA” pleaded with him to push back against the decision.
Former Charlton player and co-chair Mickey Ambrose wrote: “The whole of the English Football Family, world was shocked to hear that the FA have announced that they are to scrap FA Cup replays as of the 2024/25 season.
“Football fans up and down the country, especially those of the 72 English Football League clubs have been shaken to their core by this bombshell decision.
“Even Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer, were in a rare consensus and agreed that this is wrong and against the interest of our national game.”
He added: “FA Cup Replays give local clubs and their towns the chance to savour a momentous occasion in their community’s history.
“In 2018, Rochdale fans queued in the snow at the Crown Oil Arena on the Monday morning to get their hands on the precious tickets for their replay against Tottenham.
“Within four hours it was the first sell-out at Rochdale in living memory. In years to come, parents and grandparents will tell their children, ‘I was there’.
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“The money they earned was credited with saving Rochdale from potential bankruptcy and the club were able to plan and rebuild.
“The People’s FA and the football community urge you to stand with the fans and to publicly request that the FA Board reconsider their impetuous decision and retain FA Cup Replays for the betterment, sustainability and longevity of all of the clubs in the football pyramid.
“As things stand at present it feels as if the FA only care about the Premier League. Football’s governing body should be seen to be equally representing all clubs.”
The controversial decision led to a furious backlash from managers as well with Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder claiming it was the latest example of the top-flight’s leading clubs overwhelming all opposition.
And Millwall manager Neil Harris stormed: “It is absolutely ridiculous. European football is a joke. It’s all about money!”
England risk World Cup ban over FA Cup replay controversy
By Martin Lipton and Anthony Chapman
MPs demanding a U-turn on the FA Cup replay row could risk England being banned by Fifa.
During the second reading of the Football Regulation bill in Westminster on Tuesday, former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron promised to propose an amendment to give the Regulator the power to force the FA to reintroduce replays.
He argued, with backing from MPs across the House, that all member clubs must have a vote on deciding the rules of the competition.
Yet such a move by the Regulator would leave open the possibility that Fifa could determine the FA had been subjected to “government interference” in the running of the game.
That would be a breach of membership rules.
In recent years, the world governing body has temporarily suspended the football associations of Zimbabwe, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Pakistan because of outside influence.
It emerged that Spain’s government could take over the RFEF (Spanish FA) following disgraced ex-president Luis Rubiales’ kiss-gate scandal at the Women’s World Cup final.
That could see them run the same ban risk as England, although in reality such a punishment is unlikely.