Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has urged the FA to find a way of compensating lower league clubs if they are to go ahead with scrapping FA Cup replays.
The FA announced on Thursday that from next season, FA Cup replays would be scrapped from the first round onwards. This decision was made in consultation with the Premier League to avoid fixture congestion for teams playing in next season's expanded UEFA competitions.
However, the EFL and non-league clubs have hit out at the FA and Premier League for scrapping a vital revenue stream for their teams at a time when finances are already tight. Discussing the issue on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker admitted that he would like to see replays scrapped but more thought must be given to those lower down the pyramid.
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He explained: "I am not a fan of replays. I understand their significance, particularly to the smaller clubs, the lower league clubs, I totally get that and the possible finance of a replay that they may get. I know it doesn’t happen very often but it is the case.
"I do worry about the amount of games that footballers play so the fewer fixtures the better in that sense. Plus of course, you have the Champions League which will have more games next season.
"But it is not really about the top clubs, it is about the smaller clubs. If they have taken the replay away, I think they need to find a way of recompensing the lower clubs in another way.
"If it is to give them all the revenue of wherever they are drawn or the lower team, wherever they are in the football pyramid, gets the home tie but I would understand if players [did not want that because they] want to play at Old Trafford, play at Anfield, Stamford Bridge and all the big grounds.
"My thoughts are pretty mixed." In response, former City defender Micah Richards expressed his concern that football was becoming elitist.
He added: "You are damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I think it is becoming very elitist and this is what I don’t like.
"I think the format is great. You said that the revenue is important to these lower clubs. It is already harder for the lower end of the Premier League clubs to challenge at the top end of the elite and now it feels to me like they [lower league clubs] are getting forgotten about and that’s the bit that doesn’t sit well with me."
Both United and City are in FA Cup action this weekend as they play for a place in the showpiece final. The Blues begin the weekend's last four ties when they face Chelsea at Wembley Stadium before Erik ten Hag's men face Championship club Coventry City on Sunday afternoon.
