Express & Star

West Brom fans' chairman disappointed by FA Cup third round scheduling

Supporters' club chairman John Homer believes the magic of the FA Cup is under threat after Albion's third round match was moved to be broadcast overseas.

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John Homer.

The Baggies will now host Wigan Athletic at 12.30pm on Saturday, January 5, after being one of seven games picked to be moved to an earlier slot.

But the fixture will not be on television in the United Kingdom, and will only be broadcast abroad as part of a new deal the FA claim will benefit grassroots football.

Albion will be given just £50,000 for the trouble, half what they receive from the EFL for a home televised game.

Only 10 of the 32 third round fixtures are kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday, with critics arguing attendances will be affected.

The Baggies have attempted to combat the prospect of a low gate by reducing tickets to £10 for adults, £5 for concessions, and just £1 for under 18s.

But Homer is disappointed at the growing trend, and predicted, only part-jokingly, that future games would kick off at 1am for overseas audiences.

“I think it’s disappointing, we’re in the middle of six weeks without a Saturday 3pm kick-off,” he said.

“The 3pm kick-offs might be a thing of the past because of the demands of TV and financial benefits.

“Sadly it’s the way of the world now. I’m a traditionalist. I’m disappointed in the way the FA Cup has been treated for a while now.

“The matches take place over the whole weekend from Friday to Monday which complicates the draw.

“It destroys the myth and magic of the competition. And think of the away fans. Wigan will have to set off earlier.

“I know some fans have given up the ghost this season. We’ve had trips to Middlesbrough, Ipswich and Sheffield on Friday nights, long journeys on the worst night to travel.

“Football is designed for the armchair fan more than the travelling fan. One day there will be a 1am kick-off for overseas audiences!”

Villa reportedly rejected a request to move their third round fixture with Swansea City to the Sunday in order to be broadcast on BBC Wales.

But Albion say they were not given a choice, and simply sent an email from the FA notifying them of the kick-off time.

Wolves’s third round clash with Liverpool has been moved to Monday, January 7, to be shown domestically on BBC.

“Match-going supporters are already of the view that there is too much live football on TV,” said Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation.

“Having the third-round games spread out so thinly across the weekend diminishes the identity of the competition – ignoring what domestic supporters of the competition want.

“We’re particularly concerned that the number of broadcast games could have a negative effect on match-day attendances in the competition and we will be taking the issue directly to the FA.”

The FA defended their overseas broadcast deal, which was agreed in 2016, saying: “The new deal, which began this season, will see more money than ever before reinvested back into English football and prize money doubled to over £30.2million ­­– with a guaranteed £4m distributed to non-league clubs.

"In addition, the new deal will provide an increased level of investment into grassroots football pitches, facilities and participation programmes across England."

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