If the FA Cup Is Dying, It Is the FA Who Are Killing It

It is now widely accepted that if you want to watch Premier League matches live, you need to either subscribe to SKY, go to the pub or a friend's, or go to the match itself. In these times of great economic strife, these are not always viable options.

This has now been the way for over fifteen years and people deal with this, whether they are happy with it or not.

But should the FA Cup not be free for all to see? After all, it is the oldest cup competition in the world and the most famous (depending on who you choose to believe).

By selling half the television rights to a subscription only channel (previously SKY, now Setanta), the FA are depriving people from seeing the FA Cup at a time when it most needs their support.

This weekend sees a Merseyside derby in the FA Cup, a special occasion at any time, but this year given more poignancy as this year will be the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster.

Surely a match of this importance and emotional magnitude deserves to be watched by all who choose to do so, regardless of whether they have subscribed to a specific television channel or not?

Of course it does, but the money the match will generate for the FA and Setanta seemingly outweighs the "needs" of supporters.

The FA Cup seems to be a competition in danger of losing its allure. It will always be special—who doesn't love to watch the pampered Premier League playboys struggle in mud and rain at a tiny ground in the middle of January?—and it will always have a place in hearts of football supporters.

Modern day football has seen football supporters become increasingly alienated and priced-out of the game, certainly in terms of the Premier League and European competitions. The FA Cup now seems to be going down the same route.

There is not much tradition left in the English game anymore, and what little there is seems to be invested in the FA Cup.

This needs to be maintained and clung on to for dear life, or the FA Cup will become a shadow of its former self. The FA should realise this and act accordingly.

Sadly, it would seem that a healthy balance sheet carries more weight than the competition loved and cherished by many.

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