Editorial: A sign of decline for the FA Cup

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Find out more

So much for tradition. So much, in fact, for the FA Cup. To those who are not habitual watchers of the beautiful game, it might seem of little moment that today’s Cup Final at Wembley will, for the second year running, kick off at 5.15pm rather than the age-old 3pm. Yet those two hours speak volumes about the sadly changing character of English football.

First, there are practicalities to consider. True, a teatime kick-off is more convenient for the estimated half-billion global TV viewers. But what of the local fans of, in this instance, Wigan Athletic and Manchester City, for whom a late finish means no train home? “Real fans”, it seems, are no longer a Football Association priority.

But the triumph of television rights is not the only sore point here. The FA Cup used to be a showcase event. Played after the end of the season, it was the high point of the football year. Now, with one league game at lunchtime today, and another bevy of matches tomorrow, the Cup Final is just one among many. Meanwhile, the Premier League, with its vast wealth and promises of Europe, has eclipsed all else.

What a loss that is – for fans, for football and also for the time-honoured institutions of British sport.