Andy Burnham And Fair Play Slam Decision To Scrap FA Cup Replays

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Fair Game have penned an open letter calling for the UK Government to amend its Football Governance Bill to protect FA Cup replays.

Last week, the FA and Premier League revealed plans to abandon FA Cup replays in favour of a revamped format from the 2024/25 season.

The letter states that any structural changes to the 153-year-old knockout competition should be favoured by the majority of eligible teams across the English football pyramid.

This move has been opposed by the Manchester Mayor, as well as Fair Game, a group of football clubs aiming to enhance governance of the sport, and more than 100 teams.

Written by Burnham and Fair Game CEO Niall Cooper, the letter blasts the Premier League and FA’s ‘short-sighted and misguided decision about the hard-working community football clubs.’

Addressed to UK Secretary of State, Lucy Frazer, and her shadow Thangam Debbonaire,it reads, ‘This is all about the elite clubs protecting their own narrow self-interest.

‘The move is yet another example why football needs a strong and independent regulator that can ensure the financial future of our game.

‘Scrapping men’s FA Cup replays from the first-round proper deprives lower league clubs of a much-needed source of revenue. It does nothing to strengthen the game and is another nail in the coffin for the already crumbling football pyramid.

‘It is now up to our politicians to act and strengthen the incoming Football Governance Bill so that it delivers on its No. 1 objective: to protect the financial sustainability of the pyramid.’

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