MAN UTD LEGEND DWIGHT YORKE BACKS MIRROR'S FA CUP REPLAYS CAMPAIGN - 'SMALLER CLUBS WON'T SURVIVE!'

Dwight Yorke is cheering on the Mirror's campaign for the return of FA Cup replays, saying they are vital for small clubs' finances.

The Manchester United legend played in one of the most famous replays of all time. An amazing Ryan Giggs goal in extra time defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the semi-final on the way to lifting the 1999 treble.

Yorke, 52, spoke after we unveiled a bid to save FA Cup replays – a vital cash source for lower league clubs and their communities. The former striker said: "The lesser clubs deserve a replay. It is for the common good of the game. The big clubs can give more of the gate receipts in FA Cup games. But the lower leagues need the finances of a cup run to survive."

Yorke believes replays were axed by the FA because of the strain on Premier League stars. But ending one of the great traditions of the oldest football competition is not the answer. Yorke said: "Some games are going on for 100 minutes, so it is more demanding on players."

DON'T SCRAP REPLAYS! Join our petition to keep the magic of the FA Cup alive!

The Mirror has joined forces with Fair Game, which represents 34 clubs across the footballing pyramid, in calling for the new Football

Governance Bill to protect the FA Cup.

On Thursday, chief executive Niall Couper said: "FA Cup replays must be reinstated. The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world and our elite clubs are treating it like a dustbin. This is totemic of the problems that are raging through our national game.

"The haves are destroying the have-nots, sidelining decades of history all in pursuit of their own self-interest. Fans don't matter. The pyramid doesn’t matter and history doesn’t matter.

"The new football governance bill must be amended to end this act of vandalism by the Premier League.” A demo in support of bringing back replays will be held at Wimbledon this weekend, the club Niall supports. Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony warned it could lead to a “fallout within English football”.

First round ties are worth £50,000 to clubs if shown live on BBC or ITV; replays add another £25,000, rising to £40,000 in Round Four. The money is vital not just to clubs but local communities as the facilities are used by junior clubs, and walking football teams.

The decision to end replays was made by the FA board, after lengthy consultation, last week. They said there was ‘no room’ in the footballing calendar to play replays due to yet more games in European competitions next season.

League One and Two clubs are scheduled to play up to 10 games in 31 days from early December. The English Football League, with 72 clubs, said the new format was “agreed solely by the Premier League and FA”. Next season’s fixture list was agreed by EFL members on the Professional Game Board.

HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you make of the FA scrapping FA Cup replays? Comment below.

But they claimed the board was there to agree on ‘technical’ not policy decisions. An FA spokesperson said: “This year’s Emirates FA Cup has been another fantastic competition, with goals galore, passionate fans and famous cup upsets.

“Next season, you’ll still get the shocks and the magic of the Emirates FA Cup. The draw can still pull out the smaller clubs v the Premier League giants, but results will be decided on the day.

“England is the only major European football nation with three domestic cup competitions and the FA Cup is the only one with replays. With new match rounds in European competitions added by UEFA next season, the game can no longer fit FA Cup replays into the calendar in a workable way.

“While we all have wonderful memories of lower league replays against bigger clubs, this happens very rarely for each club. Instead, we will offer more televised matches in the early rounds which earn clubs more money.

“We are looking at the prize fund too so nobody should lose out financially when replays go.” National League leaders agreed with the move to end replays. But the FSA opposed the move, saying ‘they are such a huge part of the competition’s heritage’.

“They also have an important economic function for non-league clubs,” said their spokesperson. “Teams can find their fortunes changed if they manage to grab a draw and force a replay against a bigger league club.

“We would call on the FA to think again and look at Rounds One and Two in particular as replays can clearly take place in those slots. No clubs at that level are going to be competing in Europe, there’s no midweek clash with the bloated Champions League, so why give Premier League clubs a veto on replays in those early rounds?”

“We’ve predicted that domestic cup competitions have been under threat for years because of the greed of the biggest clubs and their desire to grab more broadcast revenue. That has led to an increase in the number of European fixtures as UEFA failed to stand up to those clubs, and a massive squeeze on the calendar.”

The FA Cup is the first organised association football competition in the world, first played in 1871 with 13 clubs. Places in the FA Cup have now been capped at 732 to match the number in the top nine tiers of English football. MPs have thrown their weight behind the Mirror’s campaign to revive FA Cup replays.

The FA has been accused of selling out smaller clubs by stripping them of opportunities to make vital cash from gate receipts and TV rights. Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire told the Mirror: “Part of the magic of the FA Cup is in its iconic replays, so it’s disappointing that they have been scrapped.

“Replays provide a valuable and important income for many clubs, including the one in my constituency - Bristol Rovers, we need total assurance that no clubs will miss out on funding because of this decision. Leagues, clubs and fans should be properly consulted on the big decisions that affect the whole of the game.

“While England’s football authorities are challenged with increasing pressure on the domestic schedule from FIFA and UEFA, the FA Cup’s tradition, history and prestige is unmatched.”

MPs are considering a Commons bid to allow clubs to restore replays in future. Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron will table an amendment to the Football Governance Bill, which would give teams involved in the competition an equal vote on how it is organised - allowing them to overturn the move.

He told the Mirror: “We can’t lose the magic of the FA Cup to greedy Premier League elite teams and money-grabbing European competitions. That is why I will be tabling an amendment in Parliament, so MPs can bring them back. Well done to the Mirror for taking up the fight to protect English football.”

Rishi Sunak is “hugely supportive of these David and Goliath matches” and would like to see them continue, his deputy spokeswoman said. But No. 10 said the sporting calendar was a matter for the footballing authorities.

Asked whether the PM, who is a Southampton fan, would welcome amendments to the Bill, the spokeswoman said: “The regulator wouldn’t have a role in the sporting calendar."

More broadly, the department would always engage with groups and consider amendments in the usual way so I wouldn’t want to pre-empt that process.” She added: “As a football fan, the PM would, like many others, like to see these continue.”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

2024-04-26T18:13:36Z dg43tfdfdgfd