The BBC has been "accused of devaluing the FA Cup and neglecting its duty to taxpayers with its decision to overlook third round ties involving lower league or non-league clubs for its live television coverage," according to Jeremy Wilson of the London TELEGRAPH. The managers of National League side Sutton United and League One club AFC Wimbledon "hit out" following their goalless draw on Saturday and, after what was still a "classic FA Cup occasion," they are both now "hoping" that the replay on Jan. 17 "will be screened live." The BBC instead "opted" for EPL sides West Ham United against Man City and Tottenham Hotspur against League Championship side Aston Villa, with BT Sport "choosing the likes of" Arsenal, Liverpool and ManU. Sutton Manager and main sponsor Paul Doswell said, "Of course we should have been on the TV. The BBC are a taxpayer-funded organization, and they should not be after viewing figures. Where is the romance? When I did my speech before the game, Manchester United were 2-0 up after eight minutes against Reading and Manchester City had beaten West Ham 5-0. We see that every week." Asked if the Cup was devalued, Doswell said, "Only to the Premier League clubs. That excitement is still there; believe me, from the Championship down. Money has killed the game anyway" (TELEGRAPH, 1/8). In London, Alyson Rudd wrote "all of those connected with both clubs had the same thought when the draw was made." This was a tie "tailor-made" for the BBC. Wimbledon Manager Neal Ardley said, "When the BBC took back the FA Cup the whole remit of what they did was to put the romance back into it. In a world where money is talking, certainly at Premier League level and a lot of people are only watching Premier League football, the FA Cup gives us a chance to just look" (LONDON TIMES, 1/9).
