FC United reject BBC request to move FA Cup tie because 'football is not a TV game show'

The National League North club believe re-arranging the kick-off would inconvenience supporters

FC United of Manchester supporters (Getty Images)

FC United of Manchester have rejected a request from the BBC to reschedule their upcoming FA Cup tie.

The National League North club were asked to move the kick-off time of their fourth qualifying round tie against Sporting Khalsa as part of the broadcaster’s new 'BBC Mobile Match of the Day' concept.

The 'mobile' idea hopes to involve presenters and pundits talking with fans, managers and even substitutes sat on the bench watching their side in action.

The club, however, which was founded in 2005 following the Glazer family's takeover of Manchester united, believes that the concept will only disrupt their preparations for the game and criticised the inconvenience it could cause supporters.

A statement entitled 'Football is sport not a television show' on their website said: "The FC United Board gave a resounding ‘no’ to this request.

"Match-going supporters should not have to be inconvenienced for the benefit of those who rarely, if at all, attend matches.

"If BBC viewers would like to understand the fans’ experience at a football game there are numerous real life games at every level throughout the country and the easiest way for TV viewers to access the real fans’ experience is to go along to a match.

"We call upon the FA to remember that football is a sporting competition and the associated drama comes from the highs and lows of the game itself.

"It does not reflect well on the custodians of our game that they would devalue the sporting integrity of their flagship competition by encouraging TV presenters to interfere with those in the dugouts or changing rooms when they are working to produce the best competitive elements of the game.

...We believe that the balance has swung way too far in favour of the TV companies

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"Nor should TV have access to substitutes when warming up, because those players are athletes preparing properly to be able to compete at their best.

"TV exposure and the revenue it generates are important to football.

"However, we believe that the balance has swung way too far in favour of the TV companies - and too far away from the match-going, admission paying, regularly attending football supporter."

FC United, nicknamed the Red Rebels, reached the second round of the FA Cup in 2010, the furthest they had ever been in the world's oldest football competition.

During that run, their first round tie against Rochdale was rearranged to be played on a Friday evening and shown live on ESPN.

The club, who are not intrinsically opposed to the re-arrangement of fixtures, believed on that occasion that the rearrangement was in the best interests of its members.

Following that decision, FC United’s board now follow a set of principles when requested to change kick-off times which consider, among other things, the travelling time for the away supporters involved.