Possible Changes To The FA Cup

13 February 2011 15:17
Cup changes on the way. Today's papers are all running the story about possible changes to the FA Cup which would come in from 2013.Much of the focus has been on moving the final to a 5.30pm kick off in order to attract a bigger global audience to keep broadcaster and sponsors including a new one as Eon don't appear to be renewing their current deal if some of the media are to be believed. But more worrying for clubs like Coventry City are planned changes which include; the possible seeding of the top clubs in order to avoid the likes of Manchester United playing Liverpool in the Third Round of the competition.Also on the list of possible changes appears to be, the scrapping of replays. Whilst the Sky Blues record in replays is not particularly good, the FA are greatly concerned about the crowds (and FA Cup attendances are being reported as being 30% down over the last four years) that replays attract and have for the last fifteen years been calling for them to be scrapped much to the disgust of supporters organisations like the Football Supporters Federation.According to media sources, there are also plans to play more ties in midweek, something, which will add to transport problems for many supporters who don't live in the town or city where their team play and force others to miss games completely due to work, college, school or family committments. Planned changes are according to the News of The World, something the FA sees as a priority and there may be some experiments with the competition next season, if the changes get FA Council backing.

Source: FOOTYMAD