Chelsea supporters have reacted with disbelief at the scheduling of their FA Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough, which makes it impossible for them to get back from the game by train.
In another piece of timetabling which leaves fans at the mercy of the TV companies, the 5.15pm kick-off on Sunday, March 20 leaves train travel home impossible. Everton fans will also be unable to get to Selhurst Park for their 12.30pm lunchtime kick-off the previous day.
Click Here: rose toy sucking
The timings, which follow the ludicrous 7.55pm start for Tottenham at Middlesbrough and the 8.15pm kick off for Norwich at Liverpool in the previous round, present further proof of a scandal which Sportsmail highlighted just six days ago.
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust have blasted the scheduling of the FA Cup quarter-final clash at Middlesbrough later this month – leaving them with no possibility of getting back home
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) said the timing of their club’s match on Teesside showed ‘zero consideration for fans.’ The last train from Middlesbrough from the capital on the day of the match leaves at 6.21pm – at which time the second half of the game will be barely under way.
CST’s Dan Silver said: ‘Broadcasters are so slow to publicise the dates and kick-off times of games. It doesn’t leave anyone much time to organise special train services for the fans. Broadcasters and the FA say they love the fans but they don’t seem to care.’
Everton fans face precisely the same problems the following day, when the first service into London Euston arrives at 12.11pm. It will be impossible for fans to make the tortuous journey across the capital to Selhurst Park for the start of the game, just 20 minutes later. Train travel to and from the north-west to the capital is always an hour longer at weekends because of long-running engineering works.
There are also potential difficulties for Liverpool and Manchester City fans heading home after ties against Nottingham Forest and Southampton respectively.
Liverpool kick off at 6pm – giving their fans a race to the city’s station for the last train home to Liverpool Lime Street at 8.24pm. If there is extra-time, train travel back will be impossible.
Middlesbrough host Chelsea in the FA Cup with the game scheduled for 5.15pm on March 20
City’s game at St Mary’s is the only 3pm kick-off. But if that goes to extra-time, supporters are looking at a train which reaches Manchester Piccadilly at just before 1am.
An FA spokesperson said: ‘All televised Emirates FA Cup matches are scheduled in collaboration with the clubs, the local authorities, the police and the host broadcasters.’
Everton’s tie at Palace was scheduled for March 20 because of the Goodison Park club’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United three days earlier. It was scheduled at 12.30pm to prevent a clash with the tie between Southampton and Man City – the second of two ties on ITV that day.
ITV has indicated that there have been staggered kick-off times in the competition to ‘reduce overlap’ in the coverage of matches, which the broadcaster believes ‘will work better for audiences.’
Everton fans travelling from Liverpool to London will miss kick-off for their tie at Crystal Palace