Following the recent confirmation of the changes that will be made to next season’s Emirates FA Cup competition meaning that replays will no longer take place, Rotherham United would like to express its opinion on the matter.
Whilst we acknowledge that the pressure created by the congested fixture calendar has provided clubs with challenges at times in recent seasons, it is disappointing that the Football Association and the Premier League have taken the high-handed approach to amend the format of our most historic cup competition.
It is our feeling as a club – and we believe this to be an opinion shared widely across the game – that this was done without any consultation or compensation for what is a huge change to the oldest and most established cup competition in English football.
The opportunity for smaller clubs to earn the right to a replay has always been a key part of the competition, not just for financial reasons but for the experiences that these fixtures represent to both players and supporters.
It is hugely disappointing that this aspect of the competition has been removed – certainly for next season at least – and it is felt here at Rotherham United that it should have been brought to the attention of clubs for discussion before action was taken.
As a member of the FA Challenge Cup Committee our Chief Operating Officer Paul Douglas was keen to put on-record his feelings regarding the matter.
“A matter of this magnitude which affects a competition with so much tradition should have been discussed as widely as possible across the game before such a decision was taken.
“The fact that the committee that I am a member of never discussed this matter is extremely disappointing and a missed opportunity to canvass opinion from the member clubs who represent a cross-section of the Premier League and EFL.”
