SUMMARY
- FA recently made the bold decision of scrapping the replays after complaints from big clubs.
- However, the decision has not gone down well with soccer fans who fear the worst for the lower league clubs.
The Football Association (FA) has been facing tremendous backlash from soccer fans after it recently announced its decision to scrap replays in the FA Cup from the first round onwards. The FA Cup, which was first held back in 1871, is an immensely popular competition in England and in the world. However, the decision to change the rules of the oldest soccer tournament in England hasn’t gone down well with the fans at all.
On April 18, the FA issued a statement where they announced that have decided to remove FA Cup replays from the next season onwards. The FA explained that the reason behind this decision was because of an increasingly congested soccer schedule. The organizing body further admitted that this decision has been taken thinking about the players’ welfare.
FA statement on changes to the Emirates FA Cup
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 19, 2024
Additionally, the FA stated that they would make the FA Cup a weekend competition and increase the number of matches in the early rounds. The FA argued that this move would result in increased broadcast revenue for all the teams. Lastly, the FA explained the process before they took this decision in response to the agitated protests from the fans.
Up until now, till the fifth round, the FA allowed replays in the FA Cup if a single game failed to decide a winner. This used to benefit the teams from the lower ranks like League One or League Two financially. However, with the soccer calendar set to undergo massive changes from the next season, England soccer’s organizing body decided to do away with the replays.
Soccer fans contemplate boycotting FA Cup amid recent rule changes
Meanwhile, the FA’s decision to do away with FA Cup replays has incensed the soccer fans. Several fans have called out the FA’s decision on social media platforms. The fans argued that this decision had been made thinking about only the powerful clubs and not considering whether it could adversely affect the lower clubs.
In addition to this, the fans have accused the FA of being greedy and only making decisions that will help themselves. The fans have termed this move as a disgrace, with one fan even going on to the extent of writing, “All the EFL and non league clubs should just boycott the FA Cup.“ Currently, the new rule is set to come under effect from the 2024-25 season.
English soccer clubs and executives unite to condemn the FA’s move
Alongside the soccer fans who have condemned the FA’s move to scrap replays in the FA Cup, former FA executives and some clubs have also harshly criticized this decision. Former chief executive of the FA, Mark Palios, who’s currently the executive chair of the English club Tranmere Rovers, called the decision a “disgrace” and labeled it to be a move designed by the powerful top-flight clubs.
⚪️ #TRFC have released the following statement: “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… pic.twitter.com/YsJfftsUo7
— BBC Sport Merseyside (@bbcmerseysport) April 18, 2024
Niall Couper, who’s the CEO of Fair Game, explained how the replays used to provide the smaller clubs with essential revenue. He added, “It is another nail in the coffin for the already crumbling football pyramid.” Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder confessed that this decision would benefit the “big boys” of English soccer. Even Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has also termed this decision as “a sad day for British football culture” and claimed this move was dictated by FIFA and UEFA.
