Arsenal replay date drags FA into Euro row
THE Football Association have called the crowded fixture list ‘untenable’ after defying UEFA guidelines to allow Arsenal and Hull to settle their FA Cup tie on a Champions League night.
The fifth-round replay, which will be live on BT Sport, has been fixed for a week on Tuesday and will clash with matches between Real Madrid and Roma and Wolfsburg and Gent.
The Cup tie at the KC Stadium will kick- off earlier than usual at 7pm, in an attempt to minimise the clash but it still breaks UEFA’s rule that domestic games must end 30 minutes before the European matches kick-off.
The move means clubs could now lose out on UEFA cash. When the problem last occurred — for Premier League games — £1million was withheld from a solidarity payment of £10m paid to the FA to be split equally among the 20 clubs in the top division for youth development and community projects. The FA were also fined £42,000.
The FA hope that serious attempts made to find an alternative during ‘in- depth and exhaustive discussions over 72 hours’ will mitigate any action by UEFA.
But a statement said: ‘This does strengthen the case for footballing bodies to work closely together in a positive, collaborative way to resolve the overcrowded and untenable fixture schedule.’
FA chief executive Martin Glenn added that it was ‘imperative we resolve the on-going problem of match scheduling together’. The FA were heavily criticised by Manchester City recently over last weekend’s fifth-round date with Chelsea that forced manager Manuel Pellegrini to field a weakened side to prioritise the Champions League and Capital One Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday.
The replay date represents a minor success for Arsenal and Hull, who were not thrilled at the prospect of playing on a Monday.
Those in Hull, however, will note the value of Arsenal’s power and influence at the FA. When Hull were involved in a similar situation with Brighton two years ago they were forced to play on a Monday to avoid a clash with UEFA, regardless of the fact it meant two games in three days for both teams.
Arsenal lobbied fiercely against Monday, only two days after the north London derby against Tottenham. The FA Cup has moved up Arsene Wenger’s list of priorities since Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie.
With European elimination now probable, the prospect of a third successive FA Cup triumph has greater appeal for Wenger, who is attempting to become the first manager to win the trophy seven times.
Meanwhile, Wenger has confirmed winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s absence for Sunday’s Premier League game at Manchester United after suffering knee and ankle injuries against Barcelona. The player underwent a scan yesterday and fears he could be out for months rather than weeks.