Modest Clubs Request FA Cup Away Games for Financial Benefits

Several lower-division clubs have requested the English Football Association (FA) to allow them to play their FA Cup matches away from home, in hopes of benefiting financially from the ticket sales of larger teams.

The proposal comes after a dramatic match between National League club Tamworth and Tottenham Hotspur, where Tamworth managed to force extra time. In the past, this situation would have seen a replay at Tottenham's home stadium, giving Tamworth the opportunity to earn 50% of the ticket revenue, which could have amounted to between £850,000 and £1 million.

Changes in the FA Cup format

Replays were eliminated starting in the 2018-2019 season from the fifth round onward, and in 2024, replays were also removed from the first round of the competition. Premier League teams enter the tournament from the third round. To offset the financial loss for smaller teams without replays, the FA has pledged to increase revenue from TV rights.

Possible further changes

In addition to the elimination of replays, the FA is considering removing extra time and deciding matches with a penalty shootout if the game is still tied after 90 minutes. This would prevent situations like the one seen in the Tamworth-Tottenham match, where Spurs, clearly the superior team, were able to bring on key players like Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski, and Djed Spence during extra time.

Key points:

• Financial implications: Modest clubs request away games to benefit from ticket sales at bigger teams’ stadiums.
• Changes to replays: The FA Cup removed replays starting in the 2018-2019 season, with further modifications in 2024.
• Possible penalty shootouts: The FA is considering replacing extra time with penalty shootouts after 90 minutes.
• Tamworth-Spurs match: A dramatic game highlighted the financial benefits lost without the possibility of a replay.