Wembley to stage FA Cup semi-finals

Both annual FA Cup semi-finals will be held at the new Wembley when the stadium finally reopens, the Football Association has confirmed.

The FA recognises that many traditionalists, as well as some fans of northern clubs, may be unimpressed by the move but argues that it is a "financial necessity" to pay for the new stadium.

To guarantee financing, the FA has had to make a 30-year promise that a set number of annual fixtures, not only including England games but also the FA Cup semi-finals and the final, will be held inside the stadium.

The move will therefore bring to an end the status of grounds such as Villa Park, Hillsborough, Anfield and Old Trafford as semi-final venues, but will at least ensure that up to 90,000 fans can watch the two games annually.

The FA's spokesman on Wembley, Nick Barron, revealed that park-and-ride schemes are being examined to ease traffic congestion to the venue. He explained: "There will be traditionalists upset by the idea of the semi-finals being at Wembley. So will some fans of clubs who would have to travel a long way to London and we appreciate that it's not necessarily an ideal situation.

"But on the other hand, we're returning the FA Cup to its spiritual home, and with 90,000 seats, we should be able to satisfy demand for tickets.

"It's a financial necessity in order to pay for the new stadium and the upside of it all is that not only will more fans be able to watch the games, but they will be doing so in the best stadium in the world.

"From the start, we have made it clear that, in order to pay for the stadium, we'd need to play all our major events there."

The League Cup final, the Community Shield, play-offs in the First, Second and Third Divisions and all England matches will also be played at Wembley when it reopens.

Since Wembley closed in 2000, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Premier League stadiums around England have hosted matches.

Renovation work at Wembley finally started in September last year and the current estimate is that the much-delayed project, which is expected to cost a total of around £757m, should be completed in early 2006.