Arsenal's FA Cup semi-final "will be played at the same time" as the ManU vs. Chelsea EPL clash this weekend after a battle between the BBC and Sky, according to EUROSPORT. The "totally absurd situation
will see millions of fans missing one or other of the biggest games of
the season, and it came about after the BBC insisted on sticking with
the early-evening slot for the FA Cup match -- a time which gives it the
best chance of a large audience, and sets up its viewing for the rest of
the night." Yet Sky has also been "accused of culpability over the problem," with the Daily Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson reporting a theory that,
"Sky chose the Manchester United and Chelsea game in the knowledge that
there was a good chance that the fixture would have to be moved until
later in the season." Whoever is to blame, the situation "has drawn huge criticism from around the game" -- and not least from Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger. Wenger: "Something should be done about it." Wenger
also "attacked" the original decision by the Premier League "to schedule
such a big match on the day that had already been earmarked for FA Cup
semi-final action early last summer." Wenger: "You would like it to be the unique competition that is played." A BBC spokesperson said, "The scheduling was agreed after conversations with the FA and Police" (EUROSPORT, 4/16). In London, Paul Doyle wrote Reading Manager Steve Clarke suggested that "football authorities are not doing enough to protect the status of the FA Cup and are diluting its appeal by allowing his team’s semi-final with Arsenal to clash with the televised Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United." Clarke said, "I thought it was a shame in the last round when we had to play on a Monday night after playing on a Saturday. There are things that we should do to protect this great competition. It should be special" (GUARDIAN, 4/15). Also in London, Gary Jacob wrote Wenger suggested that "a clause should have been inserted into the broadcast contracts to ensure that two significant games could not go up against each other" (LONDON TIMES, 4/16).
