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Fans’ leaders are "angry" after it was revealed that due to the demands of overseas broadcasters less than a third of FA Cup third-round matches will kick off at the traditional time of 3pm on Saturday, according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. Only 10 of the 32 matches will start at 3pm on Saturday Jan. 5, with 22 spread out across the weekend. The FA said that the schedule is to meet the requirements of its new £820M ($1B), six-year int'l broadcast deal which started this season. Football Supporters' Federation Chair Malcolm Clarke said, "This has gone too far and it is taking away some of the magic of the FA Cup. The FA Cup third round on Saturday afternoon is one of the enduring traditions of a wonderful competition. To have fewer than a third of the 32 matches kicking off at 3pm on Saturday is both extraordinary and very sad." The FA defended the schedule but confirmed that the new int'l deal "contributed" to the kickoff times. An FA statement said, "All televised Emirates FA Cup matches are scheduled in collaboration with the clubs, the local authorities and the police. A selection of the Emirates FA Cup third-round fixtures have been picked for domestic and overseas television coverage as part of the new international broadcast deal for the competition. The new deal, which began this season, will see more money than ever before reinvested back into English football and prize money doubled to over £30.2 million ($37.9M)" (LONDON TIMES, 12/10).
