MK Dons host Chesterfield on Friday 2 January in an FA Cup tie that neither side wants to play after an FA ruling this week over the Spireites' use of an ineligible player in the original fixture on December 6.
On-loan defender Georg Margreitter should not have featured as Chesterfield gained a 1-0 victory over their League One rivals but, instead of being expelled from the competition as has happened to teams in the past, the decision of the governing body has been to replay the match for the right to meet Scunthorpe United in the Third Round.
And the FA appear to have angered both sides, although not in the way you might think.
Chesterfield manager Paul Cook believes that: 'If we broke the rules, then we should be chucked out, and if we didn't, then we should be through,' while opposite number Karl Robinson said that Dons had: "Written a letter of support for Chesterfield - it's a great football club. It was just a very minor error."
Fixture congestion and the cost and inconvenience to fans have been cited as reasons not to have a replayed game but both clubs have done what they can to make it as affordable as possible to attend.
The Dons have asked and received special permission from the FA to lower the minimum price normally charged in the competition proper and adult tickets are available from £6.
Chesterfield, meanwhile, are subsidising both tickets and travel for their supporters.
No comments:
Post a Comment