Non-Premier League clubs have been urged to boycott the FA Cup following the decision to scrap first round replays.
That’s the opinion of talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein, who described the major change as “disgusting”.
The FA caused national outrage earlier this week after announcing that FA Cup replays would be removed from the competition from the first round onwards from next season.
The move will see teams miss out on the opportunity to claim both much-needed cash and memories of a lifetime, with the much-anticipated achievement of taking a ‘bigger’ club to a replay now becoming a thing of the past .
The FA responded to the backlash by pointing out that “player welfare” and a “crowded schedule” were partly behind their decisions.
But Goldstein doesn’t think that justifies doing away with the tradition of the world’s oldest national soccer competition.
“I don’t really care why the FA and the Premier League are abandoning replays,” Goldstein said on talkSPORT Drive on Friday.
“I guess they’re trying to make room in the schedule,” interjected co-host Darren Bent.
Goldstein continued: “I think it’s because of that. I think it’s to ensure that all matches up to the fifth round can be played on the weekend.
“It doesn’t really interest me, does it, because by removing replays it’s very simple, you’re just removing the opportunity for small clubs to make money and lots of money .
“We know how difficult it is to keep clubs afloat in the Championship and League 1 and 2. It’s virtually impossible, isn’t it, to make any profit.
“I just think you give a lifeline to clubs by giving them the opportunity to play at a big club again in an FA Cup third round and you take that away from them.
“I don’t see the benefits. I understand the benefits for the bigger clubs. If you’re Man United, Chelsea or Liverpool and you’re playing any type of European football on your doorstep, the last thing you want is a replay.
“I completely understand. But it’s the big clubs that are growing and the small clubs that are shrinking.”
One criticism of removing replays comes from the fact that the EFL would not be involved in the decision-making process.
The FA responded to this by stating that it had been “discussing the 2024-25 season schedule with the Premier League and EFL for over a year”.
The EFL, however, denied the claim, issuing its own statement and saying the replay decision was made “solely by the FA and the Premier League”.
“Now if that’s true, which of course I have no reason to doubt it, it’s honestly disgusting,” Goldstein said. “I honestly think all EFL clubs should boycott next year’s FA Cup.”
When Bent was unsure whether a boycott was the solution, Goldstein continued: “No but I’ll tell you why. Because they will boycott it, so of course the FA is in a world of trouble because that devalues their brand.
“Then they need to re-evaluate that decision. Then what they should do is get the EFL voted on.”
Many fans also floated the idea of a boycott on social media.
Many clubs below the Premier League in the English football pyramid have already condemned the move, issuing their own statements to express it publicly.
Darragh MacAnthony, chairman of League One Peterborough and talkSPORT regular, also called on the EFL to “show some things” in the face of the decision.
Meanwhile, Accrington Stanley and Tranmere Rovers have released statements condemning the major change.
Non-Premier League clubs have been urged to boycott the FA Cup following the decision to scrap first round replays.
That’s the opinion of talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein, who described the major change as “disgusting”.
The FA caused national outrage earlier this week after announcing that FA Cup replays would be removed from the competition from the first round onwards from next season.
The move will see teams miss out on the opportunity to claim both much-needed cash and memories of a lifetime, with the much-anticipated achievement of taking a ‘bigger’ club to a replay now becoming a thing of the past .
The FA responded to the backlash by pointing out that “player welfare” and a “crowded schedule” were partly behind their decisions.
But Goldstein doesn’t think that justifies doing away with the tradition of the world’s oldest national soccer competition.
“I don’t really care why the FA and the Premier League are abandoning replays,” Goldstein said on talkSPORT Drive on Friday.
“I guess they’re trying to make room in the schedule,” interjected co-host Darren Bent.
Goldstein continued: “I think it’s because of that. I think it’s to ensure that all matches up to the fifth round can be played on the weekend.
“It doesn’t really interest me, does it, because by removing replays it’s very simple, you’re just removing the opportunity for small clubs to make money and lots of money .
“We know how difficult it is to keep clubs afloat in the Championship and League 1 and 2. It’s virtually impossible, isn’t it, to make any profit.
“I just think you give a lifeline to clubs by giving them the opportunity to play at a big club again in an FA Cup third round and you take that away from them.
“I don’t see the benefits. I understand the benefits for the bigger clubs. If you’re Man United, Chelsea or Liverpool and you’re playing any type of European football on your doorstep, the last thing you want is a replay.
“I completely understand. But it’s the big clubs that are growing and the small clubs that are shrinking.”
One criticism of removing replays comes from the fact that the EFL would not be involved in the decision-making process.
The FA responded to this by stating that it had been “discussing the 2024-25 season schedule with the Premier League and EFL for over a year”.
The EFL, however, denied the claim, issuing its own statement and saying the replay decision was made “solely by the FA and the Premier League”.
“Now if that’s true, which of course I have no reason to doubt it, it’s honestly disgusting,” Goldstein said. “I honestly think all EFL clubs should boycott next year’s FA Cup.”
When Bent was unsure whether a boycott was the solution, Goldstein continued: “No but I’ll tell you why. Because they will boycott it, so of course the FA is in a world of trouble because that devalues their brand.
“Then they need to re-evaluate that decision. Then what they should do is get the EFL voted on.”
Many fans also floated the idea of a boycott on social media.
Many clubs below the Premier League in the English football pyramid have already condemned the move, issuing their own statements to express it publicly.
Darragh MacAnthony, chairman of League One Peterborough and talkSPORT regular, also called on the EFL to “show some things” in the face of the decision.
Meanwhile, Accrington Stanley and Tranmere Rovers have released statements condemning the major change.