Bristol Rovers release club statement in response to decision to see FA Cup replays scrapped

Bristol Rovers have said that they are "extremely disappointed" with the decision to scrap FA Cup replays from the first round starting next season in an official club statement.

The FA announced on Thursday that, as part of a new agreement with the Premier League, replays would be scrapped from the first round as well as pledging to keep all rounds of the FA Cup on weekends, the fourth round, fifth round and quarter-finals will be exclusive of Premier League fixtures for the first time and the Premier League will provide up to an additional £33million for grassroots football on top of their current donation of £100million it makes each season to "good causes."

Rovers, like many of their Football League counterparts, benefitted from the replay system earlier this season when hosting Championship side Norwich City at the Mem in January after a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Carrow Road, something which they highlight in their statement.

"Bristol Rovers FC are extremely disappointed in the Football Association’s decision to axe FA Cup replays from the 2024/25 season," the Club wrote via their official website. "Replays have long formed a traditional and exciting aspect of the FA Cup, the longest-serving cup competition in world football, and provide the greatest opportunity for many EFL clubs to create treasured memories for supporters.

"Bristol Rovers’ own FA Cup third-round replay at The Memorial Stadium, against Sky Bet Championship side Norwich City, attracted an attendance of over 10,000 fans for a midweek evening fixture in January and provided a valuable and important income for the Club.

"We are frustrated and dismayed at the lack of consultation regarding the matter, which has seemingly been the case across the EFL, and stand firm in our belief that such fundamental changes to a competition involving Bristol Rovers should not be made without at the very least including the Club in the discussion.

"Rovers, in full solidarity with other EFL teams, now calls on the FA to suspend their decision to make changes to the FA Cup and undertake a full and transparent consultation process with all shareholders."

Bristol Rovers Club President Wael Al-Qadi also took to X to say to the FA and Premier League, "You changed the format of the world's best competition because of the new UEFA competitions expanded calendar...all the clubs in England which play in round 3 of the FA Cup don't play in UEFA competitions so why punish them by scrapping replays. Undo this!"

The FA have also released a follow up statement, saying: "We have listened to the concerns expressed over the last 24 hours, and would like to outline the approval process which was undertaken for the 2024-25 professional game football calendar.

"We have been discussing the calendar for the 2024-25 season with the Premier League and EFL for well over a year.

"Removing Emirates FA Cup replays was discussed in the early meetings and all parties accepted that they could not continue. The discussions then focused on how to make all of our competitions stronger, despite having fewer dates available and wanting to maintain player welfare.

"The changes to the Emirates FA Cup achieve this by returning it to a weekend competition on every round, and ensuring that we have exclusive broadcast slots in an increasingly congested calendar.

"To clarify, we have also increased the number of Emirates FA Cup matches that will be broadcast in the early rounds, which will lead to additional guaranteed broadcast revenue for EFL and National League teams. Additionally, we review the prize money annually for the competition, together with representatives from the EFL and Premier League and will do the same for the 2024-25 season.

"The calendar for next season was approved last month by the Professional Game Board, which consists of four EFL representatives and four Premier League representatives and then by the FA Board, which includes Premier League, EFL, National Game and grassroots representation. This is the process we undergo every year to approve the calendar.

"We understand the concerns expressed over the last 24 hours, and we will be sharing more details with clubs very shortly to explain the additional revenue opportunities in the early rounds.

"We will keep this under review as the new calendar begins to ensure that EFL and National League clubs do not lose out."