FA Cup final could be hit by scheduling chaos with Championship sides set to cause major headache

THE FA CUP final could be hit with major scheduling chaos due to the date of the Championship play-off final.

That is because the FA Cup final scheduled for May 25 – just one day before the Championship play-off final on May 26.

As it stands, four Championship teams remain in the FA Cup; Coventry, Leicester, Leeds and Southampton, with the latter two in action tonight against Chelsea and Liverpool respectively.

Each of these teams is in the hunt for promotion, which may lead them to the Wembley play-off final.

Leicester lead the second tier but could be clawed back by the likes of Ipswich and Leeds, who are level on points with the final automatic promotion spot up for grabs.

Southampton are close behind them and sit fourth in the table and firmly in the play-off spots.

Meanwhile, Coventry are just five points outside the top six.

The magic of the FA Cup means any of these four could make the Wembley final.

However, with the showpiece so close to the playoff final it could cause a real headache for event organisers.

Since the play-offs were introduced in 1987, such an event has never occurred, with second-tier sides who have made the FA Cup final not appearing in the play-off final.

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There is no plan for it happening, either.

SunSport understands that in the event this does occur, the Championship game would be moved to facilitate the FA Cup, with the EFL making a final decision on a prospective new date.

But before all of that, there are FA Cup quarter and semi-finals to contend with, not to mention the rest of the Championship season.

SunSport has simulated the draw for the last eight, with a tasty Manchester derby on offer if injury-stricken Manchester United can beat Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

There is also the chance for an all-Championship tie between Leicester and Southampton if the Saints can overcome Carabao Cup winners Liverpool.

The real draw commences tonight at 7pm.

You can keep up with the draw with SunSport’s live blog.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk