Brighton 1 Hull 1: Both managers hit out at 'ridiculous' FA Cup replay date that will see teams play twice in two days

A stalemate at the American Express Community Stadium means the two sides will meet again next week because of Uefa regulation

Simon Peach
Tuesday 18 February 2014 09:57 GMT
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Steve Bruce (L) and Oscar Garcia (R) have hit out at a Uefa regulation that means their sides will play two matches in two days
Steve Bruce (L) and Oscar Garcia (R) have hit out at a Uefa regulation that means their sides will play two matches in two days

Hull manager Steve Bruce has hit out at the “ridiculous” UEFA regulations that have led their FA Cup fifth-round replay with Brighton to be scheduled little more than 48 hours after this weekend's league matches.

Leonardo Ulloa's quality first-half effort put the Seagulls on course for their first quarter-final since 1986, only for Yannick Sagbo to level five minutes from time.

There were no more goals despite a frantic ending to the 1-1 draw, meaning the FA Cup tie will be decided in a replay at the KC Stadium next Monday due to UEFA regulations.

Those rules have angered and perplexed Bruce, with Hull having to first travel to Cardiff for an important Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.

"I find that ridiculous, I have to tell you," the City boss said. "Surely we could play on the same night as the Champions League, you would have thought.

"I think it is a UEFA rule, which reads nobody plays on the same night as the Champions League. We'll have to take it as it is and deal with it as it comes.

"It is quite a bizarre one, isn't it? For them to say to the FA that we can't play the same night as they are playing the Champions League.

"I don't think there will be many tuning out of Barcelona against Manchester City to tune into Hull versus Brighton, no disrespect.

"But there you have it, they think it's going to clash. Is it going to be a real problem for them? I somehow doubt it."

Brighton counterpart Oscar Garcia echoed those sentiments after the match, with Wigan heading to the Amex Stadium before the trip to Hull.

"I don't think it is good for anybody to play two games in three days, but it is what we have to do and we will do it," the Brighton manager said.

"Of course the travelling will not go in our favour. Now we have to start focusing on Wigan to try and win.

"For me, they have the best squad in the Championship, can play with three different starting line-ups and be fighting for the promotion places. We have to be focused on the next game.

"Of course it is not the best scenario for us, but the competition is like this."

PA

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