by Mikel Arteta insisted it was necessary to scrap the FA Cup replays to “protect our players” as the Accrington Stanley chairman said he would support a boycott of the competition if there was widespread support.
As the backlash against abandoning the play-offs continued, the EFL said clubs lower down the pyramid were being marginalised. Accrington’s Andy Holt stressed the importance of fighting the change “with all our might” and said: “I would support a boycott if many clubs felt the same way.”
The Football Association has come under fire after confirming that replays after the qualifying rounds will be scrapped as part of an agreement with the Premier League regarding the format and funding of the competition. Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer were among those who questioned the decision, which is understood to have been taken after pressure from the Premier League’s top six clubs, who are concerned about the workload on their players ahead of the introduction of an expanded League format the next champions. season.
Related: FA Cup replays thrive on cash and chaotic decision-making Paul Mac Angus
Last week Manchester City midfielder Rodri said he “needed a rest” after a grueling schedule saw him make more than 45 appearances for club and country this season . Arteta, whose Arsenal were knocked out of this season’s FA Cup by Liverpool in the third round, believes the current situation is not “healthy” for the best players.
“We can’t look at that in an isolated way, but with the calendar we have in the coming seasons, we have to take the game out for the players,” he said. “I think it’s a very good opportunity.”
Asked if he understands the complaints about scrapping replays, the Arsenal manager said: “I understand all the views. It’s me and mine to protect our players. When I looked at the amount of minutes and games they have played in the last two years without any breaks, how much they will have to play in the next two years, that is definitely not healthy. Somehow, somewhere, we have to reduce the calendar.”
The FA issued a statement on Friday saying it understood the concerns of clubs lower down the pyramid and would share with them details of how any shortfall in lost play-off revenue could be compensated. But the EFL responded by saying it was the latest example of how the league and its clubs were being sidelined after Premier League clubs decided to stop discussing a new financial deal.
“This latest deal between the Premier League and the FA, in the absence of financial reform, is just another example of how the EFL and its clubs are being marginalized in favor of others further up the pyramid and only threaten the future. of the English game,” he says. “The EFL today calls on both the Premier League and the FA, as the governing body, to reassess their approach to their football partnership with the EFL and to engage more collaboratively on issues that directly affect our clubs.”
The Prime Minister’s deputy spokesman said: “David and Goliath games are part of the magic of the cup and we know that play-offs have been a source of income for smaller clubs for years. Meanwhile, the Labor leader said it was the “wrong decision” and that the replays were “part of the tradition of the FA Cup”.
Arsenal and City exited the Champions League this week, meaning there are no English clubs in the last four for the first time since 2020. Arteta suggested the Premier League could do more to help its clubs in Europe.
“When you look at the Bayern schedule [Munich] what we had and what we had, the amount of games they had and resting 10 players nine days ago and again three days ago, it’s different,” he said, although that was about Bayern falling apart for the Bundesliga title. “In these leagues, they either cancel the games or bring them forward to have more rest for the Champions League. we [the Premier League] are not doing so and are putting more pressure on ourselves. It’s not an excuse, it’s the truth.”
Arteta has urged his players not to “feel sorry for yourself” as they look to get their season back on track against Wolves on Saturday night. Arsenal, who face Chelsea on Tuesday, could be four points clear at the top by the time City play Brighton on Thursday and Arteta believes his side will have learned from back-to-back defeats against Bayern and Aston Villa.
“I think all the players are lucky to have had the week we’ve had. Because these are the weeks we want and have been looking for years to have at Arsenal. You have to deal with that. If you want to be in this position, you have to go through it and it will be tough. Against those opponents, the odds are minimal and you are going to try to compete to be better than them.
“But maybe even if you’re better, you won’t win. Like what happened at home against Bayern and against Villa. Are you ready to answer that? If not, you are not ready to live these types of weeks and we want to live these types of weeks. Don’t feel sorry for yourself – if we want to be here we have to be prepared because it can be done.”
