‘Women’s FA Cup revamp would ruin the magic’

Several official supporters’ clubs have hit out at a proposed new format for the Women’s FA Cup, stating the changes will ruin the “magic” of the competition and mean the “rich will only get richer”.

The Football Association has suggested a ‘road-to-Wembley bracket’, which would map out a team’s route from the last 32 onwards.

There would also be an introduction of seeds in the draw, with four spots awarded to the top four teams from the previous Women’s Super League season.

It was confirmed in November that teams who qualify for the league phase of the Women’s Champions League will no longer participate in the League Cup.

A summary document seen by The Guardian claims the changes to the FA Cup will create “high chances of consistent high-quality matches throughout the later rounds”.

An FA spokesperson told The Guardian “no decisions have been made” around the competition’s future, but said it “needs to evolve”.

“We committed in our women’s and girls’ game strategy, Reaching Higher, to review the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, recognising the need to evolve the competition and strengthen its commercial potential,” said the spokesperson.

However, the proposal has been met with opposition on social media, with SheGulls, representing fans of Brighton & Hove Albion, suggesting the preferential treatment afforded to ‘elite level teams’ will only widen the gulf in quality across the pyramid.

“The sporting merit in our game is slowly being eroded in favour of ‘super matches’ between elite level teams,” SheGulls wrote on X.

“The rich will only get richer and teams up and down the pyramid will fade into obscurity with the knowledge that without tens of millions of pounds, they won’t even sniff the big time.”

Fulham Women Supporters Club, whose side play in the fourth tier, labelled it a “ridiculous idea” and added: “[It] goes against all the principles of the FA Cup. I’d like to see WSL teams actually come in a round early.”

“And there goes the magic of the FA Cup! Subway Cup [League Cup] is a farce, now this?” added Everton Women’s Official Supporters Club.

“All about the money. Didn’t take long to ruin the women’s game too did it…”

In its current guise, the Women’s FA Cup follows the same format as the men’s competition, with a draw following each round.

There is a preliminary round and three qualifying rounds featuring teams from tiers four to seven of the pyramid, with Women’s National League teams entering in the first-round proper, and WSL2 teams in the third round.

The 12 WSL sides – which will increase to 14 from next season – enter the draw in the fourth round, which is the last 32.

The FA and WSL Football – the company overseeing England’s top two teams – have made proposals in the past that have not come to fruition.

They are keen to remain inventive and look at all options to grow the game on the pitch, as well as commercially.

According to BBC Sport sources, the Women’s FA Cup proposals were brought to the attention of clubs after the FA claimed it had gathered data from fan surveys which had called for change.

It was presented for feedback and consultation and it is unclear if it will go any further, but there has already been a widespread backlash.

Sources at several WSL clubs have told BBC Sport they are worried about what these proposed changes could do to the “sporting integrity” of the competition.

They feel it gives elite clubs more advantage despite their stranglehold on the competition, with the last 13 winners being one of the existing top-four sides.

Others feel change is unnecessary, having just made adaptations to the Women’s League Cup format in order to make it more competitive.