Fan groups slam evening FA Cup kick-offs as ‘disgrace’
FA Cup kick-off times were branded a “disgrace” by supporter groups after Manchester City and Newcastle fans faced the prospect of being stranded in London due to late night Friday and Saturday slots. The Football Association also announced West Brom’s fixture against Brentford or Wolves will kick off at 11.45am on a Sunday as the governing body accommodates ITV and BBC schedules.
As fourth-round slots were announced across the weekend of January 27-28, City fans, who previously forced a change in Community Shield scheduling, complained bitterly about their 400-mile round trip on the Friday night. The treble winners face an 8pm tie at Tottenham Hotspur on Friday, leaving some fans speculating that they will be lucky to get home by 3am on the Saturday.
“These FA Cup kick-off times are a disgrace,” posted Kevin Parker, the general secretary of the Manchester City Official Supporters Club. He also referenced Newcastle’s 7pm Saturday kick-off at Fulham as a fixture that will cause nightmares for fans getting home. Newcastle will have limited options to get home as they travel to Craven Cottage for the only available ITV slot as BBC have Ipswich vs Maidstone at lunchtime.
Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust said: “A 7pm kick-off leaves supporters with no option of catching a train home with the last train for Newcastle departing Kings Cross at 9pm, leaving thousands now looking for accommodation in London with only two weeks’ notice.
“The financial and logistical burden imposed on travelling supporters by TV companies is shocking in an industry reaping huge profits. It is always the fans who pay the price.
“The loyalty of supporters is once again being taken for granted. We urge the incoming football regulator to ensure that significant changes are put in place to ensure fans are priorities when it comes to TV scheduling of games.”
Parker and other supporters were also enraged by the 11.45am Sunday morning fixture at West Brom. The morning tie could see the first Black Country derby take place since 2021 should Wolves face West Brom by beating Brentford in their third-round replay.
Ipswich’s clash with non-league outfit Maidstone, Liverpool’s fixtures against Norwich City or Bristol Rovers and Manchester United’s visit to one of Newport County or National League side Eastleigh will also be televised.
There was some confusion about Aston Villa’s kick-off time at Chelsea. Villa announced the team would be facing a less than ideal kick-off time at Stamford Bridge on the Friday at 7.45pm, but some official FA channels had the kick-off listed as 3pm on the Saturday.
Clarifying the situation, Chelsea said later that Friday was “the only date the match can take place due to Fulham being drawn at home to Newcastle United, the scheduling of their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool on 24 January, and Aston Villa being in Premier League action on January 30.”
