Latest news with #MarkBullingham
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Empty Premier League schedule explained after FA Cup agreement reached
Manchester City and Crystal Palace will face off at Wembley in the 2025 FA Cup final and the day will not feature any Premier League football before or after the game The big game today sees Manchester City take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, but there is no Premier League action either side of the 4.30pm kick-off. It marks a change from previous years, but there's a good reason for it. There were two matches on Friday night, with Chelsea beating Manchester United and Aston Villa getting the better of Tottenham. We've got five more league games to come on Sunday and one on Monday, while City and Palace have midweek responsibilities following their Wembley exertions. On Saturday, though, it's a Premier League-free day. That's all down to an agreement aimed at preserving the "Magic of the Cup," allowing the final to take centre-stage. "The Emirates FA Cup is our biggest asset and generates over 60 per cent of our revenue to invest into the game, so it is critical to secure a strong format for the future," FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said in 2024 when the new agreement was reached. "This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar. "The new schedule ensures the magic of the Cup is protected and enhanced, while working for the whole of the English game. The longer summer period also allows a much-needed player break before the start of the next season." It's not just the final which sits on a day free from Premier League action. Under the terms of the new deal, which runs for six seasons the fourth and fifth rounds are also free of top-flight football, as are the quarter-finals. The fifth round has also been moved back to the weekend. In recent seasons, it had been a full midweek programme of games. Finalists Palace and City have taken different routes to the final. Pep Guardiola's favourites have been forced to come from behind on three separate occasions, against Leyton Orient, Plymouth Argyle and Bournemouth, though things were easier against Forest in the semis after going ahead inside two minutes. Palace's run, meanwhile, has been built on defensive strength. Oliver Glasner's side have conceded just once during their entire run, against Millwall in round five, though they conceded five against City when the teams last met in the league. "We focused on what we want to do tomorrow at Wembley," Palace boss Oliver Glasner told reporters on Friday. "We analysed Manchester City, but 90% of the time we were talking about us - because this is what we can influence, we can influence our performance, we can influence what we want to do in and out of possession and so the focus was on our game." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Why the FA Cup final is not being played on the final weekend of the season
Man City and Crystal Palace meet at Wembley this weekend with a new six-year deal between the FA and Premier League changing the date of the traditional climax to the English season The FA Cup final was traditionally the climax to the English domestic football season - and the biggest game of the campaign. But this year Manchester City against Crystal Palace is squeezed in between Premier League fixtures on Friday and Sunday on the penultimate weekend of the season. And get used to it because this is the first season of a six-year deal between the FA and Premier League agreed in April last year. There have been no replays this season - and the fifth round returned to a weekend after being played in midweek for the last five seasons. But as part of the £133m per-season deal to support grassroots football, this year's FA Cup final will played the week before the end of the season until at least 2030. There will be no Premier League games on Saturday. But the agreement not to stage top-flight league games on the Friday night before has been ripped up to move the Chelsea v Manchester United men's fixture to avoid it clashing with Sunday's FA Cup final. And this has seen the other Europa League finalists Tottenham getting their game against Aston Villa shifted to the same slot. The FA Cup final used to have a traditional 3pm kickoff time preceded by hours of build-up for one of the few games then shown on terrestrial television. Now it is at 4.30pm - and the start is only earlier to not clash with BBC 's coverage of the Eurovision contest. Despite the attraction of the Premier League and extended European competitions, the all Manchester final last season still had 8m viewers in the UK alone. And speaking at the announcement of the new deal in April last year, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham insisted his organisation were protecting 'the magic of the Cup'. He said: "The Emirates FA Cup is our biggest asset and generates over 60 per cent of our revenue to invest into the game, so it is critical to secure a strong format for the future. "This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar. "The new schedule ensures the magic of the Cup is protected and enhanced, while working for the whole of the English game. The longer summer period also allows a much-needed player break before the start of the next season. "We have also agreed new funding for the grassroots game, disability football and the women's and girls' game. All football begins at the grassroots, and this is recognised by the Premier League with very welcome additional financial support." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Dan Ashworth returns to FA following Manchester United sacking
Dan Ashworth will be unveiled as the Football Association's new director of football operations this week, just seven months after he was controversially removed as sporting director of Manchester United. As revealed by Telegraph Sport back in March, Ashworth had been discussing a new position with the FA for several weeks and has decided to return to the organisation he left back in 2018. Sources have revealed that Ashworth is set to start his new job 'imminently.' The game's governing body are said to be delighted to have secured his return and are excited about what he will bring as they wrestle with the challenges of making sure England thrive at all levels of international football. Other sources at Old Trafford have indicated they have agreed to release Ashworth to work again for the FA under the terms of his severance package drawn up when he left the club last year. The 54-year-old will have huge power to lead the FA's decision making and will effectively be in full control of the football side of the operation alongside chief executive Mark Bullingham. One of the first challenges will be for Ashworth to oversee the 'St George's Park 2.0 project' which will see a 'radical refurbishment' of the facility. But he will also oversee both the men's and women's senior and junior teams and will look closely at coach development too. The FA are keen to ensure there are more pathways for domestic coaches, especially in light of the lack of suitable English candidates when they appointed Thomas Tuchel as manager of the national team last year. The FA's Technical Director, John McDermott, will remain in his current role, but will report into Ashworth, as will women's technical director Kay Cossington, in a new management structure. Although badly burned at Old Trafford, where it is thought he clashed with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ashworth's reputation within the game has remained high. During his previous stint at the FA, the Under-17s and Under-20s were world champions in 2017 and the Under-19s were European champions the same year. Then there was the progress of Sir Gareth Southgate's England team, who went to the World Cup semi-finals in Ashworth's last year at the FA, subsequently reaching two Euros finals with the generation of players who had come through the revamped England age group system. As well as success as sporting director of Brighton and Hove Albion after leaving the FA, Ashworth also helped build the Newcastle United team that is closing in on Champions League qualification for the second time in three years. The team he constructed alongside manager Eddie Howe also ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy when they won the Carabao Cup back in March. However, Ashworth left St James' Park under a cloud,secretly negotiating with Manchester United about taking the job as sporting director while still employed by the North East club. He was placed on gardening leave at the end of 2023 after just 18 months in the job. He eventually joined United in July 2024 after they agreed a compensation package with the Magpies. Given everything that happened at Old Trafford, Ashworth has told people within the game that he severely regrets leaving Newcastle and should have stayed on Tyneside where he had an excellent relationship with Howe.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Why is the FA Cup final before the end of the Premier League season?
This year is the first of a six-year deal during which the FA Cup final will take place on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League the Football Association's updated schedule, the final will be staged on the Saturday, with any planned Premier League fixtures moved to the FA and Premier League had initially agreed for there to be no fixtures on the Friday before the final to allow focus to be on the build-up to the year, though, Chelsea v Manchester United and Aston Villa v Tottenham will take place then - because of the scheduling of the Women's FA Cup final and Europa League new schedule allows for all rounds to take place over a weekend, no replays, and third, fourth, fifth and quarter-final weekends exclusive of Premier League chief executive Mark Bullingham believes it will enhance the competition."This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar," he schedule means the EFL play-off finals can take place in their traditional slot at Wembley Stadium across the May Bank Holiday FA has also considered possible commitments for clubs in the finals of Uefa's competitions. When has the final taken place before the season ends? The FA Cup final has traditionally taken place after the league season has there have been some occasions when the final has taken place before the Premier League has 2001, Arsenal and Liverpool played the final on 12 May to aid clubs in European football - and Liverpool won the Uefa Cup on 16 2011 final took place on 14 May to avoid complications with the Champions League final, which was also being held at also hosted the Champions League final in 2013, so the FA Cup final had to be held on 11 article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. What is Ask Me Anything? Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. More questions answered... Match of the Day - your questions answeredDoes hitting the post count as a shot on target?Why are FA Cup semi-finals played at Wembley?
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Women's World Cup to be expanded in time for 2035 tournament in UK
The Women's World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams in time for the 2035 tournament in the United Kingdom, Sky News understands. The decision was taken during a virtual Council meeting today. Sky News on plans to enlarge the tournament to match the expansion of the men's tournament. It will take effect from 2031 when the Women's World Cup is due to be staged in the United States. FIFA still needs to ratify the 2031 and 2035 hosts. The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams. The UK was the sole bidder to host the tournament in 2035. The Football Association's chief executive Mark Bullingham said in April: "Hosting England's first FIFA World Cup since 1966, along with our home nations partners, will be very special." Read more from Sky News:New Pope holds first mass There are hopes that hosting the tournament at stadiums across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will help grow the popularity of the women's game in the UK. It comes following England's and 1-0 defeat to Spain . England star Chloe Kelly told Sky News last year: "The Euros here was amazing and a World Cup would be absolutely incredible. "I think it's everyone's dream, of course... England fans love football and we're ready to get behind the team. So I think it's important that we have many celebratory moments together."
