Camera-shy broadcasters in Cup upset
TELEVISION companies have been accused of killing the romance of the FA Cup by not featuring any of the four remaining non-league clubs in their live third-round games.
It means Chesterfield, Yeovil, Boreham Wood and Kidderminster have lost out on a more-than-welcome £85,000 payday.
Instead, the live TV fee will be handed out to the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal.
National League Chesterfield, who travel to Chelsea, could barely believe the snub – although there is the consolation of £32,500 for the game being moved from 3pm to 5.30pm.
But Spireites boss James Rowe admits to being baffled over the club’s biggest day in years not being played out in front of a live TV audience.
He said: “When you’ve got a team in the non-league playing the European champions you would think that would be selected.
“To not select any of the four non-league teams is surprising, to say the least.
“I thought games like these is what the magic of the competition is all about.
“Let’s also be honest, the live TV fee would also be more than useful in these testing times.”
Darren Sarll’s National League Yeovil host Championship high-flyers Bournemouth but they have also been blacked out.
He said: “Let’s face it, the Premier League sides don’t need the £85,000 but we and the other non-league clubs left in the FA Cup do.
“It leaves a nasty taste in the mouth that once again the usual clubs have been selected.
“I also think that TV viewers like to see something different. Manchester United against Aston Villa for instance isn’t anything out of the ordinary.”
The third National League side left, Boreham Wood, host AFC Wimbledon while the lowest-ranked side, National League North Kidderminster, entertain Championship Reading.
Both games will be played without the live TV cameras. In their place will be Swindon Town v Manchester City (ITV), Millwall v Crystal Palace (ITV), Hull City v Everton (BBC), West Ham v Leeds United (ITV), Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (ITV) and Manchester United v Aston Villa (BBC).
Many football supporters have taken to Twitter to express their displeasure.
One said: “Surely I’m not the only one who would much rather see a National League side travel to the home of the European champions or Yeovil Town entertain Championship side Bournemouth instead of Manchester United reserves against Aston Villa reserves?”
Another added: “Try showing something we don’t see every week like Chelsea against Chesterfield or Kidderminster against Reading.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “We have televised 12 live games this season from the FA Cup first and second rounds and will again have an extended highlights package. We’ve also streamed the competition’s qualifying rounds involving the non-league sides.”