Noel Whelan

Fri 30 September 2022 18:46, UK

Noel Whelan has backed the scrapping of FA Cup replays to ensure Man City and other English sides can succeed in European competition.

The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed adding “more and more” games to a jam-packed schedule this season would be “ludicrous”.

According to The Times (19 September), Premier League clubs are backing proposals that would see significant changes introduced to the formats of the FA and League Cups.

The plans would see FA Cup replays scrapped and would give clubs competing in Europe the option to opt-out of competing in the League Cup.

Man City are already facing a fixture headache in the early stages of the season after their Premier League clash with Arsenal – which was slated for 19 October – was postponed.

Nevertheless, the Citizens still face eight games in the month of October alone.

Whelan insisted scrapping replays could also bring success to the England national side.

He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “You’ve got to look at the protection of the players.

“The FA needs to ask – how successful do you want the English game to be around Europe?

“We’re already playing too many games, and these replays just add even more to the schedule.

“It’s not a bad idea. If you just brought it to penalties to decide games, even if you’re just trialling it for one season.

“You want the top clubs in England to be successful in the Champions League, and English players to be successful internationally.

“With all these games slotted in, where’s the respite? There’s none.

“I understand the argument about the smaller clubs, but in the grand scheme of things – you want English clubs in the final of these European competitions.

“Adding more and more games to this schedule – it’s just ludicrous. We’re just going to end up with more injury and more weakened sides. They’ll be out on their feet.”

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