Scrapping FA Cup replays ‘for benefit of Champions League clubs’

The Football Association has been accused of scrapping FA Cup replays for the sole benefit of England’s Champions League clubs after Guiseley missed out on a potential television windfall.

The non-league side were denied the opportunity to bring Stevenage back to West Yorkshire in the first round of the world’s oldest cup competition after battling to a 1-1 draw at the home of their League One opponents on Saturday.

With the FA having controversially scrapped Cup replays – which it announced in April amid the impending expansion of the Champions League and other European competitions – the tie was settled by a penalty shootout, which Guiseley lost 5-4.

The club’s general manager James Pickles claimed a second bite of the cherry could have earned Guiseley anything up to £50,000 if the fixture had been selected for live TV coverage.

He said: “I think replays have been scrapped to benefit seven clubs, if we’re all honest. No, probably not even that – probably four clubs. And there are thousands of clubs who enter the FA Cup.”

Asked if he would like the FA to reconsider its decision, he said: “I would, but I think it would be difficult for them now, to have had one season without replays to say, ‘We got this wrong’, and put their hands up. I can’t see them doing that.

“If you look at leagues, they always say the clubs vote on matters in the leagues. It probably should be the case for cups as well. That feels like a simple way to look at it, rather than listen to those top four or seven clubs and going with it.”

Pickles said there had been “zero” consultation with his club on the scrapping of replays and that there was “no logic at all” to getting rid of them before the third round, when Premier League and Championship teams enter the competition.

“You can understand with the pressure [on the calendar] bringing it in where the Premier League clubs join, but to force it upon League One, League Two and non-league clubs is a bit bizarre really,” he said.

Under the new prize money structure, clubs who lose in the first round receive money for the first time – Guiseley will get £15,000 for their defeat on Saturday.

However, Pickles estimated gate receipts from a replay would have matched that, with the potential for a further £35,000 or so if selected for television.

He suggested the FA should have looked at the old FA Trophy model, in which replays took place unless both clubs agreed otherwise in advance.

He added: “I do think, on a sporting front, you’ve got more chance of going through without replays.

“What we’d all thought is, without that safety net of a replay for the league clubs, you have got more chance of progressing. We thought if they do have an off-day, there’s no second chance for them, and we felt [Stevenage] were there for the taking in the last five minutes.

“It’s difficult to say whether the increase in prize money compensates, because, of course, you’re not guaranteed a replay. But it’s knowing that chance of a bonus exists.”