FOOTBALL fans are outraged following the announcement that the FA Cup third-round fixtures will begin on a THURSDAY.
Tradition has it that FA Cup rounds typically start on a Saturday – during the years when the competition was the pinnacle of domestic footie.
Fans are outraged by the FA Cup’s bizarre scheduling for the third-round proper
Fulham v Watford has been moved to a Thursday and will only be shown overseas
But only 10 of the 32 third-round games will actually be played at 3pm on Saturday January 11 due to TV demands.
Arguably reducing what is usually one of the busiest and most interesting afternoons of the season into a handful of cup games.
An incredible 22 games have been moved to Thursday, Friday, Sunday or Monday.
And some will be played on Saturday earlier or later than 3pm.
In fact, the round kicks off with Cardiff City’s trip to Sheffield United on Thursday 9 January.
While Everton‘s clash against Peterborough United and Fulham‘s hosting of Watford will be played on the same night.
And NONE of them will be televised live in England on Thursday, instead fans can catch Everton on BBC iPlayer and Fulham overseas.
Fans were quick to vent their anger at perhaps the most bizarre rescheduling to date.
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One wrote: “FA Cup 3 Rd on a Thursday evening. A sad demise of a once great cup competition.”
A second said: “The FA are really saying ‘let’s make it a Thursday night for overseas coverage so kids can’t come’.”
The full schedule for the Emirates FA Cup third round proper
Thursday 9 January 2025 – 7pm GMT
Sheffield United v Cardiff City (Live on BBC Wales)
Thursday 9 January 2025 – 7.45pm GMT
Everton v Peterborough United (Live on BBC iPlayer)
Fulham v Watford
Friday 10 January 2025 – 7.45pm GMT
Wycombe Wanderers v Portsmouth
Friday 10 January 2025 – 8pm GMT
Aston Villa v West Ham United (Live on ITV1, ITVX and STV)
Saturday 11 January 2025 – 12pm GMT
Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Birmingham City v Lincoln City
Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers
Saturday 11 January 2025 – 12.15pm GMT
Liverpool v Accrington Stanley (Live on ITV1, ITVX and STV)
Saturday 11 January 2025 – 3pm GMT
Exeter City v Oxford United
Preston North End v Charlton Athletic
AFC Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion
Reading v Burnley
Sunderland v Stoke City
Nottingham Forest v Luton Town
Brentford v Plymouth Argyle
Norwich City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea v Morecambe (BBC Extended Highlights)
Leicester City v Queens Park Rangers (BBC Extended Highlights)
Saturday 11 January 2025 – 5.45pm GMT
Man City v Salford City (Live on BBC One and iPlayer)
Leeds United v Harrogate Town (Live on BBC iPlayer)
Saturday 11 January 2025 – 6pm GMT
Leyton Orient v Derby County
Coventry City v Sheffield Wednesday
Mansfield Town v Wigan Athletic
Sunday 12 January 2025 – 12pm GMT
Hull City v Doncaster Rovers
Sunday 12 January 2025 – 12.30 GMT
Tamworth v Tottenham Hotspur (Live on ITV1, ITVX and STV)
Sunday 12 January 2025 – 3pm GMT
Arsenal v Man Utd (Live on BBC One and iPlayer)
Newcastle United v Bromley (Live on BBC iPlayer)
Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers
Crystal Palace v Stockport County
Sunday 12 January 2025 – 4.30pm GMT
Southampton v Swansea City (Live on BBC Wales)
Monday 13 January 2025 – 7.30pm GMT
Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge (Live on ITV4 and ITVX)
A third wrote: “Sickening. The only games that should be playing on a Thursday night are European ties.”
While another added: “This is genuinely the worst possible time for the Everton game. I don’t get it, the weekend was free.
“Just can’t f***ing help themselves can they.”
On the overseas broadcast option, one fan to commented: “Who the f** is going to watch Fulham v Watford in another country?”
The FA website had originally announced that the third-round would take place between January 10 – 13, with another fan writing: “@EmiratesFACup is just dead isn’t it.”
Only six games will be shown on live TV – five of which include a Premier League team.
Fans were particularly fuming with the decision to televise all Prem clash Aston Villa v West Ham on Friday.
Many believed that the magic of cup should’ve allowed League Two side Bromley to pick up the TV money that comes along with a trip to Newcastle.
While Harrogate’s clash with Leeds at Elland Road has also missed out on selection.
Instead, Bromley will be shown on BBC iPlayer at 3pm on Sunday, as Manchester United’s trip to Arsenal will be live on BBC One.
The other ties being shown are Liverpool vs Accrington Stanley, Manchester City vs Salford, Tamworth vs Tottenham and Millwall vs Dagenham & Redbridge.