The BBC is in discussions with the FA about "how to make it easier to choose the most exciting FA Cup fixtures to show live," according to the PA. The broadcaster received criticism for not showing League One side Bradford's 2-0 victory over Sunderland in the fifth round on Sunday, "electing instead to show Aston Villa's tie against Leicester." BBC Football Editor Mark Cole said, "As the game unfolded yesterday at Valley Parade, we shared the frustration of fans and would have loved to have been broadcasting the match live. It's everything the FA Cup and our new comprehensive coverage is about." The BBC and BT had to "make their fifth-round selections before the outcome of the fourth-round replays, which included Sunderland playing at Championship side Fulham." If the decision could have been delayed until the fixtures were "known for certain, the BBC insists it would have chosen Bradford’s tie against Sunderland" (PA, 2/16). In London, Nicholas Godden reported BBC Match of the Day Two presenter Mark Chapman on Sunday night "moved to clarify" why the BBC had not shown the Bradford-Sunderland match. Chapman: "I do have an answer on that subject. And it comes from the BBC football management who say the following: 'They had to pick their live games before the replays were played in the fourth round and therefore couldn't be sure who Bradford would be at home to.'" Bradford striker Jon Stead joked during his post-match interview for BBC that the game at Valley Parade was "a great cup tie" and that it "should have been on the TV." Bradford's official Twitter account also sent a tweet directed at Chapman and pundit Gary Lineker (DAILY MAIL, 2/16).
In London, Simon Rice wrote that the BBC was in line for more criticism "after it emerged that Bradford's quarter-final FA Cup tie has been overlooked." The League One club "looked likely to be rewarded by being shown on the free-to-air channel" in its match against Reading. But the BBC picked the ManU-Arsenal and Aston Ville-West Brom matches. Bradford's match will be shown on BT Sport (
London INDEPENDENT, 2/17).
