Television blackout once again lifted for FA Cup semi-finals
EXCLUSIVE: TV blackout lifted yet again for FA Cup semi-finals as police denied FA 5.30 kick-off time for the weekend’s first clash at Wembley between Manchester City and Sheffield United
- Manchester City’s clash with Sheffield United will kick off at 4:45am on Saturday
- The FA hoped they would be allowed the match to start at 5:30
- The police notice means that the crash will begin at 4:45, in contravention of the blackout.
The FA was forced to lift Saturday’s television blackout for the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Sheffield United due to police advice.
City’s match against the Championship team at Wembley on April 22 will kick off at 4:45pm, which coincides with the 2:45pm-5:15pm blackout period. It will be shown on ITV1.
It is believed that the FA wanted a 5:30pm start, as is often the case with Saturday’s semi-finals, but were told by police that the game could start no later than 4:45pm for security reasons.
It means the police and local security advisory group have caused the FA to break lockdown rules, which have been in place since the 1960s and are largely designed to protect attendances in the lower leagues.
According to the rules, Premier League, FA Cup and Football League matches cannot be broadcast on television between 2:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. when ’50 per cent or more’ of the ‘main national calendar’ ‘, defined as ‘the maximum or the maximum two national leagues’ – is being played.
The FA has been forced to lift the television blackout again for this year’s edition
That Saturday, there are five Premier League games, as well as a nearly full schedule of Championship games.
Last year’s Saturday FA Cup semi-final, when Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-2, kicked off at 3:30 p.m.
But the FA lifted the blackout for the match, but this was because there were only three Premier League matches that day, which fell short of the threshold, and none in the Championship.
An FA spokesperson said: ‘The kick-off times for our matches are scheduled in collaboration with the clubs, local authorities, police and broadcasters. The police and the local security advisory group informed us that 16:45 was the latest possible time for this tie.
The blackout has been lifted before, including to allow Premier League matches to be shown on TV during the Covid pandemic.
The EFL is also set to end it from the 2024-25 season as part of its new TV rights deal.
This season’s semi-final between Brighton and Manchester United has been confirmed for Sunday 23 April, starting at 4:30, live on BBC One.