Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has added his name to those hitting out at the decision to scrap FA Cup replays from the first round onwards.
The replay change is one of a number of tweaks due to come into force in the 2024-25 season. The final will now take place one week before the end of the Premier League season, with no top-flight matches on the same day, while all matches apart from some fourth round fixtures will be held on weekends.
Several lower-league clubs have expressed their dissatisfaction, with teams now denied money-spinning replays at Premier League grounds if they can hold them to a draw. Some would also miss out on valuable TV revenue, with a number of replays chosen for broadcast this season.
Wilder, who rejoined the Blades midway through the 2023-24 season, has become the first Premier League boss to criticise the changes. The amendments were agreed following talks involving the Premier League and Football Association, while Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has joined an array of football figures in speaking out.
"The game is dominated and dictated by the big boys — and they don’t want FA Cup replays," said Wilder, who managed multiple EFL and non-league sides before winning promotion to the Premier League with Sheffield United in 2019. “What does that do to non-league clubs who get into the fairytale rounds and the financial implications?
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“I’ve been at both ends of the scale," added the 56-year-old, who is now in his second spell at Bramall Lane. "The replay is a great reward. I’d have liked them kept.”
Former MP Burnham shared Wilder's concerns. "We should fight back against this," he wrote on social media. "The game is being run in the interests of the few not the many."
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Andy Burnham has joined the dissenting voices (Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)Several EFL clubs have issued strongly-worded statements in reaction to the changes. Peterborough United said they were "dismayed" by the developments, adding that there had been "no recent communication nor consultation with EFL clubs",
"We are now at the stage where the big boys don't even bother to notify us/talk through proper changes like the one's announced today re the FA Cup," chairman Darragh MacAnthony added in a social media post. "I have no idea what the Premier League or the FA are even thinking pulling this move the way its unfolded today.
"If this is a sign of things to come then expect a full on fallout within English Football coming soon all caused by one faction of our game. @EFL It is time to show some minerals in how we respond to these events today imo.
"Ignoring us lower down the pyramid is not a sensible route to take going forward. Time to get in a room/around a table & make proper progress on everything as this Is not healthy for our industry."
Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has had his say (Kieran McManus/REX/Shutterstock)Carlisle United are another club to hit out at the changes, deeming the manner of the changes being made "disgraceful. "The total lack of respect for the football pyramid, the vast number of participants in the FA Cup and its fans is plain," the League One side wrote in a statement,
"The FA say ‘Football is For All’ and as such, so many clubs and fans should not be treated like this. We call on the FA to suspend the decision immediately and properly consult with the game's stakeholders."
Following the strong response from across the board, the FA have put out a statement in relation to the proposed changes. "We have listened to the concerns expressed over the last 24 hours, and would like to outline the approval process which was undertaken for the 2024-25 professional game football calendar," the statement began. "We have been discussing the calendar for the 2024-25 season with the Premier League and EFL for well over a year.
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Replays like Aston Villa's match against Chelsea in 2024 would be scrapped under the new plans (PA)"Removing Emirates FA Cup replays was discussed in the early meetings and all parties accepted that they could not continue," the FA added. "The discussions then focused on how to make all of our competitions stronger, despite having fewer dates available and wanting to maintain player welfare.
"The changes to the Emirates FA Cup achieve this by returning it to a weekend competition on every round, and ensuring that we have exclusive broadcast slots in an increasingly congested calendar. To clarify, we have also increased the number of Emirates FA Cup matches that will be broadcast in the early rounds, which will lead to additional guaranteed broadcast revenue for EFL and National League teams. Additionally, we review the prize money annually for the competition, together with representatives from the EFL and PL and will do the same for the 2024-25 season.
"The calendar for next season was approved by the Professional Game Board, which consists of four EFL representatives and four Premier League representatives, last month, and then by the FA Board, which includes Premier League, EFL, National Game and grassroots representation. This is the process we undergo every year to approve the calendar.
"We understand the concerns expressed over the last 24 hours, and we will be sharing more details with clubs very shortly to explain the additional revenue opportunities in the early rounds. We will keep this under review as the new calendar begins to ensure that EFL and National League clubs do not lose out."
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