The row over the abolition of FA Cup replays intensified on Friday, with the EFL accusing the Football Association and the Premier League of sidelining its clubs from the decision-making process. (More Football News)
Explainer | What Has Caused The Row Over FA Cup Replays And What Happens Next?
EFL accused the Football Association and the Premier League of sidelining its clubs from the decision-making process. In this article, we look at the situation more closely
Here the PA news agency looks at the situation more closely.
What has happened?
The EFL released an explosive statement on Friday afternoon saying the agreement announced between the FA and the Premier League on the new format and funding for the FA Cup was 바카라a further example of how the EFL and its clubs are being marginalised in favour of others further up the pyramid바카라 which 바카라only serves to threaten the future of the English game바카라.
A number of EFL clubs and some from lower down the pyramid have also criticised the lack of consultation on the issue. One of them, League Two side Bradford, said that although retrospective consultation was still necessary, it would be 바카라nothing more than an insult바카라.
What has the FA said?
Football바카라s national governing body said it 바카라understands the concerns바카라 expressed in the last 24 hours and said it would be 바카라sharing more details with clubs very shortly to explain the additional revenue opportunities in the early rounds바카라.
It added that the EFL had been involved in discussions about replays for over a year and that 바카라all parties accepted they could not continue바카라. The FA also pointed out that the calendar changes were approved by its Professional Game Board (PGB) which includes four EFL representatives.
So the EFL backed the changes?
The EFL insists the abolition of replays from the FA Cup was 바카라agreed solely between the FA and the Premier League바카라. It said its PGB representatives did challenge the position on replays and were told that clubs would be 바카라comfortable바카라 without them. The EFL added: 바카라Any decisions taken on the calendar involving EFL representatives are in no way an endorsement of the joint deal agreed between the FA and Premier League that imposes changes to the FA Cup competition format in isolation.바카라
The FA, EFL and Premier League were in discussions over the so-called 바카라New Deal For Football바카라 to agree new financial settlements and changes to the domestic calendar in response to fixture pressures caused by UEFA expanding its club competitions from 2024-25. However, the EFL statement says the discussions over the FA Cup were 바카라bilateral바카라 between the FA and the Premier League.
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The EFL insists it must be involved in all discussions on changes to the calendar affecting its clubs and crucially, how any such changes are compensated for. But sources close to the EFL feel that now Premier League clubs have opted to halt talks on a new settlement with the 72 clubs, the EFL is being sidelined.
What happens now?
The FA says it will try to convince lower-league clubs they will not 바카라lose out바카라 as a result of the changes. The EFL says the FA and the Premier League must 바카라re-evaluate their approach바카라 to dealing with it and its 72 clubs.
York owner Matt Uggla has said he will contact all those clubs who have spoken out in opposition to the changes to 바카라discuss our options바카라 regarding the FA Cup.
바카라We might be called small clubs but together we are giants,바카라 he wrote on X.
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He described boycotting the FA Cup as 바카라the nuclear option바카라.
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