'women's Fa Cup Revamp Would Ruin The Magic'

Several charismatic supporters' clubs person deed retired astatine a projected caller format for nan Women's FA Cup, stating nan changes will ruin nan "magic" of nan title and mean nan "rich will only get richer".

The Football Association has suggested a 'road-to-Wembley bracket', which would representation retired a team's way from nan past 32 onwards.

There would besides beryllium an preamble of seeds successful nan draw, pinch 4 spots awarded to nan apical 4 teams from nan erstwhile Women's Super League season.

The connection comes little than a fortnight aft a awesome revamp of nan Women's League Cup was announced, pinch nan title group to get a caller sanction and travel a Swiss-style format for nan group shape from adjacent season.

It was confirmed successful November that teams who suffice for nan convention shape of nan Women's Champions League will nary longer participate successful nan League Cup.

A summary archive seen by The Guardian, external claims nan changes to nan FA Cup will create "high chances of accordant high-quality matches passim nan later rounds".

An FA spokesperson told The Guardian "no decisions person been made" astir nan competition's future, but said it "needs to evolve".

"We committed successful our women's and girls' crippled strategy, Reaching Higher, to reappraisal nan Adobe Women's FA Cup, recognising nan request to germinate nan title and fortify its commercialized potential," said nan spokesperson.

"This would alteration america to reinvest much backing into some nan title itself and nan wider women's shot ecosystem, which is captious for long-term, sustainable growth."

However, nan connection has been met pinch guidance connected societal media, pinch SheGulls, representing fans of Brighton & Hove Albion, suggesting nan preferential curen afforded to 'elite level teams' will only widen nan gulf successful value crossed nan pyramid.

"The sporting merit successful our crippled is slow being eroded successful favour of 'super matches' betwixt elite level teams," SheGulls wrote connected X.

"The rich | will only get richer and teams up and down nan pyramid will slice into obscurity pinch nan knowledge that without tens of millions of pounds, they won't moreover sniff nan large time."

Fulham Women Supporters Club, whose broadside play successful nan 4th tier, labelled it a "ridiculous idea" and added: "[It] goes against each nan principles of nan FA Cup. I'd for illustration to spot WSL teams really travel successful a information early."

"And location goes nan magic of nan FA Cup! Subway Cup [League Cup] is simply a farce, now this?" added Everton Women's Official Supporters Club.

"All astir nan money. Didn't return agelong to ruin nan women's crippled excessively did it…"

In its existent guise, nan Women's FA Cup follows nan aforesaid format arsenic nan men's competition, pinch a tie pursuing each round.

There is simply a preliminary information and 3 qualifying rounds featuring teams from tiers 4 to 7 of nan pyramid, pinch Women's National League teams entering successful nan first-round proper, and WSL2 teams successful nan 3rd round.

The 12 WSL sides - which will increase to 14 from adjacent play - participate nan tie successful nan 4th round, which is nan past 32.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City - who vanished successful nan WSL apical 4 past play - person won nan past 13 Women's FA Cup titles betwixt them.

The FA and WSL Football - nan institution overseeing England's apical 2 teams - person made proposals successful nan past that person not travel to fruition.

They are keen to stay inventive and look astatine each options to turn nan crippled connected nan pitch, arsenic good arsenic commercially.

According to BBC Sport sources, nan Women's FA Cup proposals were brought to nan attraction of clubs aft nan FA claimed it had gathered information from instrumentality surveys which had called for change.

It was presented for feedback and consultation and it is unclear if it will spell immoderate further, but location has already been a wide backlash.

Sources astatine respective WSL clubs person told BBC Sport they are worried astir what these projected changes could do to nan "sporting integrity" of nan competition.

They consciousness it gives elite clubs much advantage contempt their stranglehold connected nan competition, pinch nan past 13 winners being 1 of nan existing top-four sides.

Others consciousness alteration is unnecessary, having conscionable made adaptations to nan Women's League Cup format successful bid to make it much competitive.

While galore consciousness it will not advancement beyond first consultation, location remains interest among WSL clubs.