The FA Cup final is set to kick off at 3pm next month creating a clash with rugby union’s European Champions Cup final and a scheduling nightmare for rights holders ITV.
Mail Sport has learned that the Metropolitan Police do not want the Manchester derby to kick off any later due to the risk of crowd trouble at Wembley in the repeat of last year’s final, when the kick-off time was brought forward to 3pm from 5:15pm for the first time since 2011.
The FA’s preference is for early evening kick-offs as they generate bigger TV audiences in the UK and United States in particular, but sources at Wembley are resigned to the Cup final kicking off at its traditional 3pm start time.
The kick-off time is expected to be confirmed later this week following talks between the FA, Met Police, Brent Council and TV rights holders BBC and ITV.
While a 3pm kick-off is likely to be welcomed by Manchester United and City fans travelling to London the decision will be a commercial blow for the FA and broadcasters, particularly ITV, due to the clash with the Champions Cup final, which is due to kick off at 2:45pm.
The FA Cup final will kick off at 3pm next month with Metropolitan Police concerned by risk of crowd trouble at Wembley
The game is set to be played between Manchester United and Manchester City for the second year in a row
ITV have the rights for both matches and are likely to show the rugby on ITV4, which will have significant implications for its viewing figures.
The rugby authorities are also unhappy with the clash as one of the showpiece occasions of the club season, with Northampton and Harlequins both in the semi-finals along with Leinster and Toulouse, is likely to be completely overshadowed.
Tournament organisers European Rugby Cup Ltd are unwilling to change the kick-off time for the Champions Cup however, which was chosen avoid clashes in France with coverage of the Cannes Film Festival and football’s French Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon, which is also scheduled for 25 May.
Another potential complication has been created by the fact that the Champions Cup final will be staged at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although the Met have not raised concerns about two major sporting events taking place in London on the same day.
The change in kick-off times creates a clash with ITV also broadcasting rugby’s European Champions Cup on the same day
The Met have taken an increasingly cautious approach to policing football in recent years, with the EFL unhappy at being forced to bring forward this year’s Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea to 3pm.
The FA declined to comment.
