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Liverpool and Manchester mayors want FA Cup semi-final switched from Wembley

By Alistair MagowanBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section FA Cupcomments1797

Wembley
Wembley is used to host both the FA Cup semi-finals

The FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Manchester City should be moved from Wembley, say the mayors of both cities.

The game is scheduled to take place on the weekend of 16 and 17 April.

However, engineering works mean no trains are running from either city to or from London from 15 to 18 April.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram both say the game should be held at a "more accessible stadium".

City subsequently said they will provide 50 coaches offering subsidised travel for supporters, with places available for £40 each.

However, in a joint letter to the Football Association, Mr Burnham and Mr Rotheram said: "Without quick, direct trains, many people will be left with no option but to drive, fly, make overly complex rail journeys or book overnight accommodation.

"When you factor in the rising costs of fuel, it is clear that supporters of both clubs attending this game will face excessive cost and inconvenience - and that is before any environmental impact is considered.

"There are also significant logistical and safety considerations. With thousands of fans making the long journey south, there will be huge numbers converging on the M6, which is likely to be stretched to capacity by bank holiday traffic.

"A single accident would risk the entire motorway being brought to a standstill and fans missing the kick-off."

The pair said they understood the engineering works had "been scheduled since 2019 and that the FA was explicably made aware of them last autumn".

They added: "Over the last year, we have heard the slogan 'football without fans is nothing' many times. If this decision is left to stand, and people are either priced out of this game or unable to attend for other reasons, those words will be meaningless to many.

"We believe the most obvious solution is to move the game to a more accessible stadium and offer to work constructively with you to make that happen."

Prior to the letter, the FA said it was liaising with both clubs and working with Network Rail and National Express to find a solution "so that supporters of both teams are able to travel to and from the fixture with as minimal disruption as possible".

The other FA Cup semi-final is between London clubs Chelsea and Crystal Palace so there is no issue over the venue.

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1797 comments

  • Comment posted by WIT, at 07:20 23 Mar

    I’ve never been a fan of having semi’s at Wembley.
    Bring back neutral venues and have the final at Wembley as the prize for reaching the final.
    This situation with liverpool and City just adds another issue to the problem.
    Of course it will likely never happen due to money!

    • Reply posted by hiphopanonymous, at 07:45 23 Mar

      hiphopanonymous replied:
      💯

  • Comment posted by curls, at 07:21 23 Mar

    Best news ever if there you decide to switch.. Wembley should only be used for the FINAL not SEMI FINAL... It's never about the fans

    • Reply posted by rob, at 08:09 23 Mar

      rob replied:
      56 thumbs up and 0 thumbs down. Spot on. No one wants the semis at Wembley.

  • Comment posted by cynic, at 07:19 23 Mar

    Makes complete sense - why should 70000+ fans travel South East just to please FA corporate chums?

    • Reply posted by Norm77, at 07:25 23 Mar

      Norm77 replied:
      50000+ fans travel North East for most Liverpool home games

  • Comment posted by Des Wigwam, at 07:24 23 Mar

    FA couldn't give sweet FA about the fans.

    • Reply posted by MW, at 08:23 23 Mar

      MW replied:
      and nor do the clubs remember the ESL that your club so eagerly signed up to short memory you fans

  • Comment posted by HonouraryScouser, at 07:20 23 Mar

    Never really understood why semi finals were switched from provincial stadiums to be played at Wembley. Better off using Old Trafford for this game

    • Reply posted by Enjoy Yourself, at 07:32 23 Mar

      Enjoy Yourself replied:
      Because it makes more money for The FA, as they own Wembley.

  • Comment posted by Lawrence Howard, at 07:29 23 Mar

    Dear Andy Burnham & Steve Rotheram,
    Thanks for your concern about the SF at Wembley, after due consideration we have decided to keep the SF at Wembley. Any fans wishing to attend from Liverpool & Manchester we would advise taking a few days off work & making a weekend of it in our glorious capital city.
    Kind regards,
    The FA.
    😂😂😂😂

    • Reply posted by Grb, at 07:37 23 Mar

      Grb replied:
      Good luck with your Wembley semi finals and final if the clubs refuse to travel.

      Regards

  • Comment posted by Hawkeyethejock, at 07:18 23 Mar

    The semis should never be played at Wembley. Money rules in football..and always will.

    • Reply posted by ABU Hamster, at 09:56 23 Mar

      ABU Hamster replied:
      But I notice not one person can provide a sensible suggestion for a stadium up north where this could be played. Obviously not Etihad or Anfield. Old Trafford has a game on, and not a great idea to hand it over to both Man U's biggest enemies for the day...

  • Comment posted by footie fan, at 07:24 23 Mar

    Absolute nonsense having semi finals at Wembley full stop.

    • Reply posted by Philly the kid, at 07:55 23 Mar

      Philly the kid replied:
      Tbf, it’s probably the only chance many players/fans get to play there, short of league play-offs.
      Yet, we all know it’s only done to pay off the Wembley renovations. Let’s not pretend the fa have any other motivation.
      🤷‍♂️🙄

  • Comment posted by Dr_Hook, at 07:28 23 Mar

    Since the semi finals have been at Wembley, it has taken the shine off the competition and makes the final not as important as it once was.

    Maybe it's about time the FA used neutral (classic) venues for the semi finals and in return would make getting to Wembley a whole lot sweeter.

  • Comment posted by okokok, at 07:24 23 Mar

    Rebuilding Wembley was a vanity project for the FA based on sentiment and never for supporters across the whole of England. Travel to / from it is horrendous. Should have been built in the Midlands where it's easier and fairer to get to for all the country.

    • Reply posted by Windy M, at 07:36 23 Mar

      Windy M replied:
      But everyone in the world want's to play at Wembley stadium, the best football stadium there is... unless of course you're from any other country in the world.

  • Comment posted by AndyB_MOT, at 07:31 23 Mar

    It would definitely make sense. So it's safe to assume the FA won't do it.

    • Reply posted by SteH11, at 11:01 23 Mar

      SteH11 replied:
      These rail disruptions have been planned since 2019.

      The FA still decided to put the semi finals on this weekend though, despite being warned about the rail disruptions in advance.

      It's their fault. They should provide 100's of buses for both sets of fans.

  • Comment posted by Stephen, at 07:21 23 Mar

    Couldn’t agree more to change the venue.Either Old Trafford or Goodson would be ideal. The FA should actually think for a change & actually consider the paying fans.
    Wembley should only be used for the final,& not be degraded. The all London affair should be played at either Arsenal, West Ham,or Spurs grounds.

    • Reply posted by BeardedDragon, at 07:28 23 Mar

      BeardedDragon replied:
      Even St James Park, Newcastle would be much better than London

  • Comment posted by Shemanator, at 07:21 23 Mar

    The FA continues milking fans

    • Reply posted by mick40, at 08:22 23 Mar

      mick40 replied:
      It's their cup, so they can play it where they like, in this case Wembley

  • Comment posted by Big D, at 07:23 23 Mar

    Regardless of whether the trains are working or not, Manchester City and Liverpool should not be played in London. The clue’s in the name!

    • Reply posted by Bingers, at 08:37 23 Mar

      Bingers replied:
      What? Ever? Praise be....

  • Comment posted by brittp, at 07:25 23 Mar

    Semi-finals shouldn't be at Wembley anyway, but in this situation moving them is surely a no-brainer

    • Reply posted by SteH11, at 11:06 23 Mar

      SteH11 replied:
      Why not just swap the league and cup games?

      Play the cup game at Wembley on April 10th (when there's no rail works). And play the league game at the Etihad on April 16th!

  • Comment posted by Lord Celery, at 07:22 23 Mar

    Much better idea to play in the north. Old Trafford would be ideal.

    • Reply posted by misanthrope, at 07:26 23 Mar

      misanthrope replied:
      That is a brilliant idea.

  • Comment posted by hector300, at 07:28 23 Mar

    The FA often digs its heels in over issues like this. Let’s see if the blazers ( who no doubt will have chauffeur driven cars ) can make the right decision for hard pressed ordinary people who face high fuel prices, astronomical rises in gas and electricity and higher food prices. Not to
    mention higher NI payments.

    • Reply posted by Windy M, at 07:34 23 Mar

      Windy M replied:
      Even as a football fan, I'd suggest if they are that hard pressed for cash, they shouldn't be spending it to watch a game of football.

  • Comment posted by Big D, at 07:25 23 Mar

    As a City fan, I’d be happy for the game to be at Old Trafford or Goodison.

    • Reply posted by SteH11, at 11:05 23 Mar

      SteH11 replied:
      United are playing Norwich at home that weekend. And Goodison is terrible.

  • Comment posted by Beneducci, at 07:22 23 Mar

    It would make absolute sense for this switch to happen. Would there be some challenges involved in doing so? Yes. Would it be in the best interest of the fans who are meant to be the heart of the game? Without doubt.
    Will the FA be strong enough to make it happen? Not so sure.

    • Reply posted by Windy M, at 07:37 23 Mar

      Windy M replied:
      The fans haven't been the heart of the game in England since at least the mid 90's. It's all about cash.

  • Comment posted by Mike Torrinos Cellphone Battery, at 07:36 23 Mar

    I want to know why sanctions against Chelsea have been relaxed to allow their supporters at Wembley. Either follow through on sanctions and punishments or don't bother at all!

    • Reply posted by Grb, at 07:40 23 Mar

      Grb replied:
      A lot of serving MPs and Lords have affiliations to Chelsea FC.

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