“Save our FA Cup” is the urgent call from the national football supporters’ group in England and Wales. The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF)* believes rumours that the 2006 FA Cup Final may be moved to a Wednesday night, or replays scrapped in the later rounds, are the latest in a long line of assaults on England’s oldest football competition.
The FSF has contacted the Football Association (FA) and asked that no decisions be taken before supporters are properly consulted. The FSF passed a unanimous resolution at its national council meeting at Doncaster Rovers’ ground on Sunday 13 February 2005 calling for the Final to continue in its long-established slot as the last game of the domestic season and for replays to be maintained in the fifth and sixth rounds.
The FSF has also launched an on-line petition to allow supporters to register their views.
You are encouraged to sign the petition at theFSF Website
Commenting, FSF chair Malcolm Clarke (a Stoke City supporter) said: “If there’s one competition that unites hardcore football supporters it’s the FA Cup. From the top of the Premiership right down to the Ryman League and even lower in the Premiership the Cup is the stuff of football dreams. Yet the FA seems unable to defend its own competition. We all know the great old competition has been the subject of more than one own goal by the FA.
“The FA didn’t just allow the holders Manchester United to withdraw in 1999/2000. It encouraged them. Unbelievable. We’ve seen the ending of replays in the semi-finals and final. We’ve seen the ending of unlimited replays in earlier rounds. Every decision taken by the FA. Every decision chipping away at the uniqueness of the Cup. We’ve heard a lot of talk over the past few years from the FA about the defending the great history and traditions of the FA Cup. Here’s the FA’s chance to walk the walk.
“The FA Cup Final should be the final Saturday of the domestic season. That should be set in stone. There should be no further cutbacks in replays. There’s plenty of ways of achieving this whilst still giving England players the clear month’s break between the end
