What’s happened to magic of the FA Cup?
WHY has the FA Cup been relegated to a mid-week evening tournament? And why are teams allowed to put out their reserve or youth teams? FA Cup Saturday, be it the first or sixth round, used to be one of the highlights of the football calendar. now it is a largely irrelevant tournament competing for a prize of Thursday evening Europa League matches instead of the wonderful European Cup Winners Cup. Why do the first four teams in the Premier League qualify for the Champions League? It should be the champions only, but that would mean less TV revenue from fewer matches. Perhaps the authorities will come up with a new money-maker —the European Losers Champions Cup! Why is the convenience of supporters never considered when arranging kickoff times? This season I have been to matches starting at noon, 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.45pm. yes, Sky and BT have put shed-loads of money into the game, but the price is that traditions are going down the drain. And don’t start me on VAR. now when your team scores, you have to wait a few minutes before knowing whether you can cheer or not. Today’s pitches are like billiard tables, enabling superb ball control, and the players are fitter and quicker than ever, but for me, much of the Premier League has become just like a computer game. How long will it be before matches are played between virtual teams to save the bother of the players getting changed? Come back, Greavsie, Bestie and Saturday 3pm kick-offs! Those were the days of real football, despite the muddy pitches, shoddy stadiums and tasteless pies.
JOHN HOLMES, Lymington, Hants. My HUSBAND and I are keen rugby union fans so the report that Sky wants to take over Six nations coverage (Sportsmail) is a blow. Last year, we decided to subscribe to BT Sport at a cost of £18 a month so we could view Premiership matches and other rugby programmes. If Sky is successful in gaining the contract for the Six nations, taking it from the BBC and ITV, we would have to pay a further £31 a month. Watching the sport we love would become unaffordable.
VALERIE HARRISON, Plymouth, Devon.