Arsène Wenger Thinks Scrapping FA Cup Replays Would Be Disrespectful

Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger said that scrapping FA Cup replays "would be a sign of disrespect to England's most traditional club competition," according to Shravanth Vijayakumar of REUTERS. The FA and Premier League clubs are considering a number of measures, including scrapping FA Cup replays, "in order to trim English football's busy fixture list." A lucrative new domestic broadcast deal, worth 70% more than the existing one, "comes into effect next month" and Wenger, who has lifted the FA Cup six times, believes the extra revenue "can help clubs cope with fixture congestion." Wenger: "This is the most traditional competition in England. Let's respect it and keep it as it is." West Ham Manager Slaven Bilic, however, feels scrapping replays "would add to the competition's allure as it would give smaller clubs a greater chance of causing an upset." Bilic: "Are replays giving the FA Cup more respect? I think no. I would get rid of them. The big thing about the FA Cup is it's one game" (REUTERS, 2/19).