Scrapping fa cup quarter final replays.

Mountfield1985 · May 27, 2016

Stanley Parker said:
After the Hillsborough disaster, action had to be taken. Playing the semi-finals at Wembley does allow most fans to watch their team in safety - though at some financial cost.

Replays are retained in the early rounds where the small teams enter the competition. There are not many smaller clubs who get through to the quarter-finals and then get a draw.

I don't believe them for a second when they say it's because of safety. It's usually a month between the QF and SF which is more than enough time to organise a venue and all the safety measurements that go with it. And they were happy enough to do that right up until the new Wembley was opened.

It's a purely financial decision to host semi finals at Wembley.

Stanley Parker · May 27, 2016

I'm sure that the FA have acted in their own financial interest too in playing semi-finals at the new Wembley. The record is erratic until the new Wembley opened in 2007.

One semi-final was played at Wembley in 1991. Both semi-finals were played at Wembley in 1993, 1994 and 2000. The old stadium was demolished in 2002/03, and both 2005 semi-finals were played at the Millennium Stadium.

JimEFC · May 27, 2016

I for one would like to welcome our new FA overlords.

Because Fk Cambridge Utd, right guys?

4737carlin · May 27, 2016

Not into this, I think they should make it that if one side is in Europe then fair enough, but for the smaller club who arent in Europe, like Liverpool, then no need to worry.

Whistlin' Dixie · May 30, 2016

Mikey_Fitzgerald said:
Does this mean Quarter Finals will now be at neutral venues?

The FA'd make sure they were at Wembley. :mad:

Scrap that three-handled chamberpot if they're arsed about fixture congestion, and have replays, with further replays if required.

The Cowboy · May 30, 2016

Mountfield1985 said:
I don't believe them for a second when they say it's because of safety. It's usually a month between the QF and SF which is more than enough time to organise a venue and all the safety measurements that go with it. And they were happy enough to do that right up until the new Wembley was opened.

It's a purely financial decision to host semi finals at Wembley.

It was built into the plans that Wembley would host the semis for the foreseeable, to fund construction.

The FA really need to revisit this, though. There are now several 50k+ grounds that could be used, albeit many in London.

Gwladysstreetlad · May 31, 2016

Why have replays at all eh? The FA should just make it a rule that anyone who puts out one of their beloved "big teams" is automatically band and the other team reinstated because how dare they upset the status quo! This is one more step towards the the fools who run this game completely destroying everything that made football in this country special. The stupidity of FA is breathtaking.