HORNETS GOT SUCH A BUZZ!
DOM DI PAOLA has claimed the Football Association’s decision to do away with replays in the FA Cup from the first round proper onwards is ‘destroying their own competition’.
The FA announced on Thursday it was scrapping replays as of next season as part of a new six-year agreement between the game’s governing body and the Premier League.
Currently, the FA Cup has no replays from the fifth round onwards but the FA says the move to eliminate them from an earlier stage has been made “in light of changes to the calendar driven by the expanded Uefa competitions”.
For Pitching In Premier Division Horsham, it is sad news in the season when they took League One Barnsley to a replay at their Camping World Community World Stadium after a 3-3 first-round draw at Oakwell.
That simply wouldn’t have happened under the new rules, with the tie decided on the day via extra-time and penalties if needed. The call has left Hornets boss Di Paola infuriated.
“The FA aren’t governing for all. They may say as their tagline they are but they’re not and this shows they’re not,” he said.
“It’s a madness that clubs won’t be able to have the moments like we’ve had. It’s all about making sure there is no chance of an upset and that the underdogs don’t beat the big guys.
“Nothing surprises me with the FA and how they govern our game. This is a kick in the teeth for the FA Cup.”
Clubs from the Championship down will surely feel the big boys are the ones being looked after in this change, with the smaller sides less likely to make life-changing money from an FA Cup run.
Imagination
Di Paola believes it is all because Premier League teams simply do not want an extra fixture in the calendar.
Though his men went out, they were reinstated after Barnsley were found to have fielded an ineligible player and went out 3-0 to
Sutton United in round two.
“It must be very hard for them having to play an extra match with their 25-man squads,” he added with more than a hint of sarcasm.
“But I find it staggering that the FA are destroying their own competition for the sake of money. Every aspect of our game is going to the dogs and it is a shame for all of us lower-league clubs.”
After drawing in Yorkshire, Horsham took the Tykes back to West Sussex and, although they lost 3-0 in front of a live television audience on ITV, their big night just wouldn’t happen next term. Di Paola remains convinced it was not the result but the experience and hosting a Football League club in front of 1,980 fans which captured the imagination.
He insisted: “If someone had asked whether we could take the win on penalties on the night, or take Barnsley back to Horsham, we’d have the replay.
“We got live TV coverage in the replay and a night of history at our own ground. If the tie had been done and dusted on the night, it would never have been the same.”