Farnborough face FA Cup dilemma

Farnborough Town were last night faced with the dilemma of whether or not to attempt to host their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Arsenal, after being given the added incentive of a £265,000 live television payment.

The Nationwide Conference club were in talks with Hampshire police, as well as Arsenal and the Football Association, on whether to hold the game at their 4,100 capacity ground or move it to Highbury.

If they keep the game at their Aimita stadium, it will be shown live at 12.30pm on Saturday 25 January by Sky Sports, which will also screen Crystal Palace taking on Liverpool on Sunday at 4pm.

The BBC, criticised for choosing two all-Premiership third-round ties, will show Manchester United against West Ham at 1pm on the Sunday but will also broadcast Shrewsbury Town's tie against Chelsea at 6.30pm on the same evening.

The indications are that, although Sky Sports will show Farnborough's tie live if it takes place at home, it would not necessarily do so if the game were moved to Highbury. Farnborough would risk missing out on their £265,000 live television payment.

The FA has made it clear that FA Cup ties can only be switched on "safety and security issues", and not for financial gain.