THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION have significantly increased the FA Cup prize money after replays were controversially axed.
EFL and non-league clubs were outraged back in April after a joint decision from the Premier League and the FA to scrap rematches in the legendary competition.
The FA agreed to put an extra £2.34million into the prize pot for rounds one to three[/caption]
Officials announced they would seek compensation for their clubs and branded the initiative as “frustrating and disappointing”.
They also claimed they had been sidelined and expressed fears that the new format would deny already cash-strapped sides of lucrative fixtures with some of the country’s biggest clubs.
The EFL believed the decision occurred as a result of the expansion of Uefa’s calendar with the controversial introduction of the repackaged Club World Cup, which led to furious reaction from players.
According to The Mail, however, a compensation has now been agreed following a series of high-level talks.
The FA agreed to put an extra £2.34million into the prize pot for rounds one to three.
That means the total kitty could increase by 38 per cent compared to last season.
Therefore, defeated clubs from Round One will make £15,000 compared to nothing from last year.
Those who are defeated in the second round will receive a total of £65,000, which is up from £41,000.
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And finally those who make it to Round Three before being knocked out will pocket £145,000.
Replays had been a key part of the FA Cup tradition, which is why the new plans received such a furious reaction.
Throughout the competition’s history there have been a number of highly-lucrative rematches for some of the lower-tier clubs.
Why FA Cup changes are GOOD NEWS
By Martin Lipton
THE FA and Premier League should have done the deal to scrap FA Cup replays years ago.
No doubt traditionalists will moan but it is right that the competition has finally been brought into the 21st century.
Ending replays will bring extra sharpness and excitement to the ties, with the knowledge that there will be a winner, whether in 90 minutes, extra-time or penalties.
If big guns have a bad day, they are more likely to pay the price. Replays after draws give them a fall-back they do not deserve.
Giving the FA Cup total and absolute priority over four weekends – and ensuring there is no competing match on the day of the Final – will enhance the profile of a competition that was in danger of falling out of the spotlight.
And as long as the FA ensures a better split of the prize money fund, weighting it more towards the earlier rounds, and potentially a similar move with TV match money, there should be few losers.
Read more on the FA Cup.
