PLAYERS in the women’s game have hit out at suggestions of FA Cup rounds being decided by a coin toss or officials drawing lots.
The Telegraph revealed the bizarre ideas are being mulled over by football authorities as possible options for the second and third rounds of the contest.
A coin toss is reportedly being considered as an option for deciding second and third round outcomes of the Women’s FA Cup
It has been reported clubs involved in these two stages could find themselves dropped from this season’s competition altogether, with both rounds falling into the Government’s ‘non-elite’ sports category.
Clubs from the WSL and the Women’s Championship – the game’s top two tiers – are due to enter the contest in the third and fourth rounds.
And the idea of a coin flip being used to conclude the contest’s previous two stages has been derided by players on social media.
Portsmouth’s Hannah Haughton described the suggestion as ‘shocking’ whilst Pompey midfielder Jade Bradley urged the competition’s bigwigs to ‘sort it out’.
On her Twitter account, Bradley wrote: “This isn’t a choice of ends – it’s a decision on players development, careers, physical well-being, mental well-being and more importantly the direction in which women’s football is heading. right now it’s embarrassing. Sort it out.”
And Bradley’s team-mate Danielle Rowe, 24, was equally unimpressed and wondered what would happen if a coin toss was used to decide an FA Cup clash involving Harry Kane.
Discussions were held between FA officials on Tuesday to work out ways to move forward with the Cup.
FA officials are keen to avoid delays to Women’s FA Cup matches this seasonCredit: PA:Press Association
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However a decision is not expected to be made until later this week.
It is thought officials are eager to avoid pauses to the competition rather than wait for Covid-19 restrictions to be eased because of Team GB’s pre-Olympic training camp in June.
The final of the Women’s FA Cup is due to be played at Wembley on May 22.
Women’s FA Cup Dates
Second round: Sunday 3 January 2021 (17 fixtures postponed)
Third round: Sunday 17 January 2021
Fourth round: Sunday 31 January 2021
Fifth round: Sunday 28 February 2021
Quarter-final: Sunday 21 March 2021
Semi-final: Sunday 18 April 2021
Final: Saturday 22 May 2021
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk