It has come to my attention that certain people are talking about scrapping the FA Cup Replays. I do not know who are talking about the need to scrap the FA Cup Replays but I am in disagreement. The times that I have seen the FA Cup on Cable Television, Satellite Television, Internet, or have heard it on my Shortwave Radio, the FA Cup Replay has been part of a tradition of English as well as Universal Football [Soccer]. The saying that if it is not broken, please do not fix it applies to the FA Cup Replays.

The FA Cup is one of the oldest football tournaments in the world with a fixed sense of rules and regulations agreed upon by those who are currently or have participated. One of the rules and agreements have been the replays. I am of the impression that the replays have been used in case of any doubts as to the results of the games. In fact after reading about the proposal to abolish FA Cup Replays, I have arrived at a conclusion. It is either the proposal of Sepp Blatter President of FIFA or of the larger clubs. As far back as 2003, Arsene Wegener of Arsenal called for an end to replays as well. Roeder made similar declarations during his era in Newcastle. I also have to conclude that maybe it was a joke in bad taste which in that case offended me.
 

The smaller clubs in England who play in the FA would have a lot to lose in case that this joke in bad taste were to ever become a reality. Smaller Cups are at a disadvantage to the big clubs is that without replays, they can be eliminated by the big clubs. The Bigger Clubs would lose in such a deal since in case of any problems, or loss, they cannot check if the opposing team committed an act that would have helped them.
 

Regardless, I personally consider the issue of FA Cup Replays a dead issue after the Football Association announced in the 19th of February 2007 that the FA Cup Replays will continue as usual. In fact, abolishing the FA Cup Replays goes against the grain of the FA Rules and Regulations as of 2007-2008 Section L which governs Fair Play in Football [Soccer]. Under Section L of the FA Rule Book, everyone associated with football [soccer] must be supporters of the idea of football being a positive and entertaining force in the game. The FA Cup Replays are an integral part of Section L of the FA Rules and Regulations 2007-2008.

If people want to think about changing the FA Cup Replays, my only suggestion would be to find another sport where they could do all of the rule changing they want. Another suggestion would be to enter business and politics since these two fields are unpredictable with their constant changes. All I ask is to leave the FA Alone.
 

REFERENCE:

BBC Sport: «FA rejects scrapping Cup replays»
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6376649.stm

BBC Sport: «Roeder backs calls to end replays»
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6373045.stm

BBC Sport: «Arsenal call for end to replays»
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/2835209.stm

The Rules of the Football Association Limited [adopted on the 29th of May 2007]
http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/8F1F05B1-15E3-49BF-97F4-BC8FDA72B687/121454/RulesofAssociation.pdf