Time To Scrap Early Round Replays

09 December 2013 00:13
One Man's View

Maybe it is time to scrap replays in the FA Cup before the Third Round.

No-one wants to deny a non-league team’s chance of taking Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal etc to a very profitable replay but profits are one thing that clubs competing in the very early rounds of the competition do not make.

Attendances for replays outside the Third Round, bar the odd local derby, are notoriously low and with clubs having to share 45% of the gate receipts with their opponents and then pay into the FA pool, many non-league clubs record a loss from their FA Cup replays.

Replays are nothing more than an extra expense for match going supporters, who have to fork out extra for travel and tickets and having matches played to a finish might bring a few more in through the turnstiles and give those who go their money’s worth.

The fixture list is crowded as it is and the sooner these unnecessary games are consigned to history the better.

 

Source: Coventry MAD

Source: FOOTYMAD