Chesterfield MP not happy that BBC and ITV have ignored the replay for TV coverage.
https://www.westbromnews.co.uk/2023/01/11/labour-mp-to-write-to-bbc-and-itv-as-west-brom-v-chesterfield-fa-cup-replay-snubbed/A Labour MP is set to write to both the BBC and ITV after neither channel opted to broadcast the replay of West Brom against Chesterfield in the FA Cup.
The Baggies and Spireites played out a pulsating 3-3 draw at the home of the non-league side on Saturday (7 January) and will now contest a replay for a spot in the fourth round.
Both the BBC and ITV will show one replay over the course of the next week but they have chosen to select Wolves against Liverpool and Leeds against Cardiff despite both games being on TV in the first place.
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins is far from pleased with the decision and took to his personal Twitter account to make it clear he would be asking for answers from the broadcasters.
“Following the announcement by the BBC & ITV that they’ll broadcast the same games they already showed in the 3rd round and not the replay of the thrilling Chesterfield and West Brom game, I will write to them to express the disappointment being aired by so many,†he said.
It has been a perennial problem for the FA Cup for decades now but the magic of the underdog story disappears when the terrestrial channels get the chance to show any of the big Premier League sides.
This was acutely evident as Manchester United against Everton and Manchester City against Chelsea were chosen to be shown live in the UK over Chesterfield against West Brom or any other game where an upset was possible.
Any team outside of the top flight becomes irrelevant to the BBC and ITV as soon as the perceived big six comes into play and it constantly hurts the smaller clubs.
United against Everton wouldn’t even be picked for broadcast by Sky if it were a Premier League game and the Red Devils don’t need the money from one night on the box.
Chesterfield and West Brom do right now and they have been shunned into the shadows just to enhance the egos of the big boys.