PLAY OFF
The FA have long been a disgrace to the game, but scrapping cup replays should be final nail in the coffin
This decision is only about pleasing the seven clubs who play in Europe
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THE FA have long been a disgrace to our national game.
And their announcement last week about scrapping FA Cup replays from the first round should be the final nail in their coffin of integrity.
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The football regulator cannot come soon enough to take control away from these hapless men in grey blazers.
How the hell can this organisation make such a sweeping change to the oldest domestic cup competition in the world without consulting 712 of the 732 clubs that entered it this season?
They did not discuss it with the EFL, they didn’t mention it to the National League or any of the grassroots divisions.
They simply dictated to them: Our entire game must revolve around the Premier League.
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And let’s face it, this decision is only about pleasing the SEVEN clubs who play in Europe.
It’s ironic when you think that the glory that Sir Alex Ferguson delivered to Manchester United might well never have happened had it not been for cup replays.
Coventry boss Mark Robins scored a winner in a semi-final replay against Oldham in 1990 that saved him from being sacked.
And Fergie’s first trophy was also won after they beat Crystal Palace following a replay in the final that year.
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The FA Cup is a crown jewel of our football heritage and the blazers at Wembley are happy to further damage this wonderful competition.
Let’s not forget it wasn’t long ago that these same idiots wanted to sell our national stadium to Fulham owner Shahid Khan. They actually were going to do that had it not been for a huge stink-up.
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Times have changed in terms of the amount of games the elite clubs play in Europe – but that doesn’t mean we should be watering down our flagship competition to accommodate that.
When the FA scrapped replays from the fifth round, it was a fair compromise. It allowed the smaller clubs the chance to force a replay and generate much-needed revenue.
Given that the FA don’t allow these clubs to switch home ties to their opponents’ bigger stadiums anymore, it’s a massive deal for a Sutton United or Boreham Wood snatching a draw at home against someone like Man Utd or Arsenal.
When Cambridge United earned a replay against the Red Devils in 2015, it saved the club from financial meltdown
The FA blame the expanding European tournaments that are adding to the fixtures.
But it always amazes me when I hear people like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola whinge about the schedule.
FIXTURE CONGESTION MYTH
City will finish this season having played 59 games in all competition – and we all have to get the violins out.
But what about League One club Peterborough United who could end their campaign having played SIXTY-FOUR? I never hear Posh boss Darren Ferguson complaining about that.
Nor did I ever once hear George Elokobi complain about his FA Cup giantkillers Maidstone United having to play SIXTY games so far. If the National League South side reach their division’s play-off final, they will have ended up playing SIXTY-THREE matches!
And most of their players have to do a five-day week of work on top of their football too!
This contrasts hugely with say the Premier League’s bottom club Sheffield United, who will finish their miserable season having played only 41 games in all competitions.
It is a huge myth that the FA Cup adds a huge burden to clubs’ fixtures.
ALL ABOUT THE MONEY
The real reason why the top seven in particular don’t want to play the extra games is purely finance. Don’t let them fool you otherwise.
West Ham for example won more money for topping their group in the Europa Conference League last season than what Manchester City won for lifting the FA Cup.
If the cup paid out more than European football, they would instead be complaining about the expanding UEFA competitions.
It is bad enough that most of these clubs don’t bother playing pre-season friendlies anymore against the lower-league teams, preferring instead to push their brands across other continents so they can get richer and richer.
Personally, I’d love it if a football regulator had the power to kick the likes of United, City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal out of English football completely.
And I’d enjoy it even more if they force them to play ALL their games outside the country in their much-wanted breakaway European Super League.
Never in the long and proud history of English football have our top clubs been so out of touch with the heartbeat of the game in our country.
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Enough is enough. Football must be regulated because the whole way the game is run here is rotten to its core.
And those in power at the FA should be booted into row Z once and for all.
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