Premier League clubs ‘in talks to enter shock new competition’ just days after FA Cup replays scrapped
“RIDICULOUS” plans for a new competition after FA Cup replays were scrapped have angered fans.
The Premier League are reportedly in talks over a format involving 16 of their Under-21 teams and 16 National League sides.
Supporters blasted the suggestion – having already joined many clubs and managers from the Prem down in slating the FA for ditching FA Cup replays from next season.
But the idea of a new 32-team event might be the reason the National League shocked lovers of grassroots football by BACKING the replay axe.
That’s because the fifth tier could profit financially from the plan for an EFL Trophy-style competition, as revealed by the The Athletic.
It would see four regional groups of eight teams, with the National League teams playing the U-21 sides at home.
It’s understood the host NL clubs would keep all the gate money plus half the prize money.
The rest of the cash would be split between the eight NL teams not competing in the tournament, as well as all the NL North and NL South sides – meaning 56 clubs in all.
The National League’s top 16 teams would take part – with the two clubs promoted from there into the EFL replaced by the two relegated sides going in the opposite direction.
The Athletic’s Matt Slater posted on X: “When is fixture congestion OK? A: When it’s subsidised by the PL.”
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And most fans appeared to agree with his withering reaction.
One wrote: “This is ridiculous. No one wants u21 sides in the EFL trophy. The national league boss wants less fixture congestion. So why is this needed? Keep FA cup replays.”
Another argued: “What a ridiculous idea. So they now want to ruin the FA Cup AND the FA Trophy? This is appalling.”
And a third said: “How can the National League look at this year’s fixture congestion and think the answer is more games?”
However, one supporter posted: “I am no doubt in a minority but I do enjoy the more unusual competitions, including the EFL Trophy.
“Cheap tickets, lots of games, get to play teams you wouldn’t normally. Random nature of it with teams not chasing promotion means unlikely teams make the last stages too.”