The Football Association

[Craig_H]

Utterly utterly useless. There's nothing else you can say to describe them.

Now dont get me wrong, i dont particularly care as it doesnt affect me, but the FA Cup Semi-Finals at Wembley (dont get me started on that) have been scheduled so that the Arsenal v Chelsea game (you know, the one where 90% of the fans live in the same city as the venue) has been scheduled for the Saturday, whilst the Bitters v Scum game is going to be on the Sunday at 4pm.

I mean seriously, could the authorities stick two fingers up to the fans any more if they tried?

It's just pathetic. They treat fans with virtual contempt. Unbelievable, you really couldnt make it up.

[Chrono]

It is retarded but my heart hardly bleads for those two.

[Craig_H]

Well no, obviously. But forgetting that it's those two groups of mutants involved, it really does defy belief. It's almost like they're TRYING to make it as hard as possible for match going fans. If it's not on purpose, they're just seriously thick.

[Chrono]

Basically if it makes money they are interested in it. Fans can do one as far as they are concerned.

[Craig_H]

What's the difference though, money-wise?

Both matches will have tv coverage revenues, both will benefit from sponsorship revenues and corporate hospitality etc etc.

How would the FA lose money by making the bitter/scum game on the saturday and the chelsea/arsenal game on the sunday?

[Chrono]

No difference money wise, I just mean that they are only interested in the finances and probably never even dawned on them quite how stupid a decision it was. The fact that it's not only the final played there says it all.

[Neil Young]

No difference money wise, I just mean that they are only interested in the finances and probably never even dawned on them quite how stupid a decision it was. The fact that it's not only the final played there says it all.
:handshake:

The idea that organisations like the FA, which makes millions out of television revenue, was ever going to put the interests of supporters above those of their paymasters is naive. It's not incompetence; it's modern capitalism.

[Joe King]

The whole cup competition system in England is a joke. For the league cup, we have two legs yet for the FA Cup semi's we have one. The FA Cup winners get £2.5m prize money, the League Cup something around £1m. It makes no sense at all.

To play the semis at the final venue is a joke. Surely Manchester United - Everton could have been played at Eastlands or at a push Villa Park whilst Chelsea - Arsenal/Hull could have also been played at Villa Park. Its not like they are playing on the same day.

[Neil Young]

I realise this is stating the obvious but the FA make a lot more money if the semi-finals are at Wembley. Given they spent £800gazillion on Wembley they need to milk the FA Cup along with everything else.

[Joe King]

I realise this is stating the obvious but the FA make a lot more money if the semi-finals are at Wembley. Given they spent £800gazillion on Wembley they need to milk the FA Cup along with everything else.

Totally agree, with gastronomical prices on burgers and programmes, you can see them making back on what they paid in the next couple of years. Its a total joke, football is for the people yet they are making Everton fans travel from Ireland. For United, its just up the road, if you catch my drift.

[BallBoy]

you cant blame the FA from wanting to generate some income for wembley from the semis and since they are a non-profit organisation i dont see why they would only be interested in finances, its not as if the fat cats will get a big bonus. Their only real income is team england and the fa cup so if they want to squeeze some extra money from it to help grass roots football then let them.

Maybe if the Premier League shared a bit more of its money around the game might be able to hold onto some of its tradition.

[Craig_H]

I still cant see why the Northern semi final was scheduled on the Sunday evening. Bizarrely incompetent decision.

[Neil Young]

:o Of course, if someone doesn't do thing Syd's way it can only be because they're too stupid to realise their mistake. :rolleyes:

[Liverpool]

Having the semi finals there takes all the shine off the final and getting to Wembley, but its all about money.

If I had it my way, I would play the FA cup final at Wemberley and the league cup at Cardiff, but that will never happen. :D