Following a cinematic weekend of FA Cup action, the country is as gripped as it has ever recently been on the historic competition. But how long will that last with the upcoming TV deal that looks set to change everything?
Aaaand breathe.
What a thrilling weekend of FA Cup madness.
Embed from Getty ImagesLate winners in local derbies. A Championship side reaching Wembley. Goals galore. This weekend’s FA Cup quarter-finals showed that the competition is very much alive. But could this be the final year of the Cup as we know it?
It was announced in February that TNT Sports, formally BT Sport, would take over the rights of the competition as of the 2025/26 season, sharing broadcasting with a free-to-air channel. The same company that not so long-ago ditched coverage of the FA Cup. Opening the door for ITV to partner with the BBC.
🚨 TNT Sports will be the new home of the Emirates FA Cup from 2025/26 ⚽️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2024
Watch more games than ever before from the world’s oldest national football competition 🏆@EmiratesFACup | @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/P6EYN4fJWL
That deal, meaning all broadcast games of the competition were free to air in the UK. It has seen the Cup regain popularity and gravity within the footballing and wider world. The competition was dying, and people were not watching due to the lack of accessibility.
It breathed new life into the tournament. FA Cup competitions of the last few years don’t seem that vivid. The odd one sticks out, such as Wigan’s famous win or Lincoln and Sutton’s runs. However, since the recent takeover by ITV. There has been loads more attention thrust upon the competition by the media and, therefore, the fans. ITV’s coverage of Manchester United V Liverpool was the biggest TV audience of the year, for example.
Biggest television audience of the year watches ITV’s coverage of Manchester United’s Cup win over Liverpool
— ITV Press Centre (@itvpresscentre) March 18, 2024
8.6 million see Manchester United clinch cup win. > https://t.co/ojTczFoPhL pic.twitter.com/r7mcoSVVFt
Wrexham’s recent non-league run, Grimsby Town beating Premier League Championship opposition, Horsham’s incredible story and Maidstone’s continuing brilliance — the competition just has its spark back over the past few years.
Teams began taking it more seriously, too. Before, many of the top teams only took it seriously once they were in and around the latter stages. Now, from when they join, teams at the summit of the Premier League have consistently fielded strong squads and aimed for success in the competition.
A stark contrast to the situation just a short time ago.
This weekend provided just what the FA Cup should be about. Incredible celebration or heartbreaking pain — the emotions that football brings.
Embed from Getty ImagesCoventry thought they were down and out, but they weren’t. Two stoppage time goals swung the pendulum entirely and ensured Mark Robbins’ men made it two years in a row that a team from the second division reached the semi-finals, after Sheffield United lost against eventual champions Manchester City last season.
The Sky Blues suffered a crushing defeat on penalties in the Championship playoff final against Luton last season; a draw against Manchester United looks like that emotion may well repeat itself.
But it’s the FA Cup, so don’t write anything off.
Manchester United’s place in the semis didn’t come without drama either, as I’m sure you’re aware. Amad Diallo’s monumental moment brought back the memories of the glory days for the 67,000 United fans at Old Trafford at the weekend, a winner celebrated with more passion than most of the goals scored during Erik ten Hag’s reign. 120th minute, it doesn’t get much more ‘Fergie time’ than that.
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester City got the job done in routine fashion, as many expected, hosting Newcastle United; routine not a word to describe their semi-final opponents Chelsea’s win against Leicester City. It was looking comfortable until Axel Disasi’s moment of madness and Stephy Mavididi’s wonder strike put a real spanner in the works.
But, despite Raheem Sterling’s lousy attempts at taking a penalty and a free kick, a wonder strike of their own would from Noni Madueke, which came shortly after Carney Chukwuemeka’s goal, meant two late goals saved the Blues blushes.
Embed from Getty ImagesThese quarter-finals set up a bumper weekend of FA Cup semifinals, with both games readily available for the British public to view, free of charge. Next season will be the last, for a little while at least, that the FA Cup will be fully available without being behind a paywall.
So, enjoy the buzz while it lasts. Because if it’s anything like last time, it may not last forever.
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
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