The FA is risking a financial penalty from UEFA "if it goes ahead with its plan" to schedule the FA Cup replay between ManU and West Ham on the same night as Man City’s Champions League match against Paris St. Germain, according to Paul Hirst of the LONDON TIMES. An article on West Ham’s website, which has since been taken down, claimed the FA Cup quarterfinal replay "would take place at Upton Park on Wednesday April 6 at 7:00pm." That is the same night that Man City travels to PSG for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal. Although "confirmation is yet to be announced, it is understood that April 6 is the most likely date." UEFA rules forbid the scheduling of domestic matches on the same night as European competition, "but a packed schedule means the FA has no option but to organise the match on the same evening as Champions League football takes place." Three years ago, UEFA took over £1M from "the English clubs’ pot of Champions League television money for scheduling matches on the same night as European games." UEFA could choose to take the same action again, although FA sources insist it has "been talking to European football’s governing body about the complexities of fitting FA Cup replays into the domestic schedule." The FA is "hoping to placate" UEFA by scheduling the kickoff time at Upton Park for 7:00pm, rather than 8:00pm, but "that would still cause a clash" with Man City’s game, which kicks off at 7:45pm (LONDON TIMES, 3/21).
