Fans have been left angry at an FA Cup rule change with one particular match being postponed this weekend due to coronavirus cases.
League Two newcomers Barrow found out on Friday morning that their First Round Proper clash was postponed due to opponents AFC Wimbledon having a number of positive results for Covid-19 amongst their first team group.
It left many supporters confused, thinking that Barrow would be given a place in the Second Round and that Wimbledon forced to leave the competition.
BREAKING: Saturday’s #EmiratesFACup tie has been postponed following a number of positive COVID-19 tests at AFC Wimbledon.
Full story…#BarrowAFC https://t.co/jlTOY8VbSp
— Barrow AFC (@BarrowAFC) November 6, 2020
That has been the case for the qualifying stages of the FA Cup, but because it’s the proper stages of the tournament, it’s at the Football Association’s discretion to bend their initial ruling for bigger clubs.
Non league sides who have lost their place in the competition due to a positive case in the squad or unable to play in high risk areas are as follows…
– Newmarket Town were awarded a walkover due to a Walsham-le-Willows player testing positive
– AFC Sudbury were awarded a walkover due to a Burton Park Wanderers player testing positive
– Egham Town were awarded a walkover due to a Redhill player testing positive
– Whitley Bay were awarded a walkover due to a Dunston UTS player testing positive
– Litherland REMYCA given walkover as Droylsden withdrew from competition
– Evesham United were awarded a walkover due to numerous Coventry United players testing positive
– West Bridgford were awarded a walkover due to eight Lincoln United players testing positive
– Carlton Town were awarded a walkover due to a GNG Oadby Town player testing positive
– Haywards Heath Town were awarded a walkover due to three Broadbridge Heath players testing positive
– Burgess Hill Town were awarded a walkover due to Hollands & Blair failing to fulfill the fixture.
– Atherton Collieries awarded walkover as Bamber Bridge withdrew due to a player testing positive
– Poole Town awarded walkover as Merthyr Town withdrew due to being on Welsh Assembly COVID-19 watchlist
– FC United of Manchester were awarded a walkover due to an Alfreton player testing positive
– Brackley Town were awarded a walkover due to a Kettering Town player testing positive
– Hemel Hempstead Town were awarded a walkover due to a Boston United player testing positive
– King’s Lynn Town were awarded a walkover due to several Notts County players testing positive
A number of positive coronavirus tests among AFC Wimbledon’s “first-team group” means Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie at Barrow has been postponed.
Our @EmiratesFACup tie away at @BarrowAFC has been postponed due to a number of positive results for Covid-19 amongst our first team group: https://t.co/xQV3YkxhUZ #AFCW pic.twitter.com/GrFvuwEtE9
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) November 6, 2020
AFC Wimbledon said via their website: Saturday’s Emirates FA cup match against Barrow is postponed due to a number of positive results for Covid-19 amongst the first team group of AFC Wimbledon.
Testing of all first-team players and staff is now taking place, as well as Under-18 squad members as a precautionary measure.
The first team group will now all self isolate.
The match will be rescheduled on a date to be confirmed.
– STATEMENT ENDS –
Barrow manager David Dunn express his frustration but said safety comes first.
‘It will happen a few times.’
Barrow AFC manager David Dunn has given his reaction to Saturday’s postponed FA Cup tie with Wimbledon.@bbccumbriasport?#bbcfootball #BAFC #FACup pic.twitter.com/MEYQHJC0lT
— BBC Cumbria Sport (@bbccumbriasport) November 6, 2020
“We were out on the training pitch and just about to start doing some more work on our shape for the game so it’s disappointing for everyone,” Dunn explained.
“It’s unfortunate but it is what it is, and I think there’s a chance that clubs will suffer from these postponements here and there but we have to do everything we can to keep everyone safe and healthy, that’s the most important thing.
“As much as we’re frustrated, we’ve had a packed schedule of late so this gives us a chance to let the players rest their legs, have a couple of days off and then come back fresh and ready to go again next week.
“We’re really lucky because we have Ryan (Sutherland) here at the training ground working really hard to ensure we have precautions in place, we’re doing the right things and we’re ticking all the boxes.
“I know lots of people in Barrow will know Ryan and credit to him for the job he does for the Football Club.
“We’ve had the EFL in this morning looking at the new training ground and what measures we have in place and I think they were impressed – and that’s down, in no small part, to his efforts.”
Fans were left angry at an FA Cup rule change as a match is postponed…
Orient were thrown out of the league cup for exactly the same thing
— My-key (@ziggy0416) November 6, 2020
Clubs in the qualifying rounds forfeited the game if they couldn’t play due to Covid restrictions. That’s why Kings Lynn got a walkover against Notts County. One again @FA discriminating against clubs at lower levels compared with “the elite clubs”
— Dave Keegan (@kegsy131) November 6, 2020
Can’t understand why the rules change at this stage. Looking after the bigger clubs it would seem
— Dave C Official ??? (@DaveChubb) November 6, 2020
Different rules at this stage of the competition .. it’s at the FA’s discretion
— FA Cup Factfile (@FACupFactfile) November 6, 2020
I agree
— FA Cup Factfile (@FACupFactfile) November 6, 2020
Tie should be awarded to Barrow and game should be cancelled, not postponed which would save fixture chaos/congestion etc.
— JOE WILLS (@JOEWILLS13) November 6, 2020
So how comes afc wimbledon dont have to forfeit like the non league clubs in earlier rounds
— westham3000 (@westham82) November 6, 2020
No, different rules from first round proper
— Jon Chalk (@Jon_Chalk1) November 6, 2020
They will have a squad of 30+, and a youth team. Sure they could get a team up here if not Barrow should get a bye. If the leagues are not carefull there is going to be massive backlog of fixtures!
— Matthew Dewey (@MatthewDewey17) November 6, 2020
So you can change the rules from round to round to suit the elite teams – initial rules should have stayed for the whole competition including going straight to penalties without extra time being played
— GH Away Travel ? (@GHCoaches) November 6, 2020
Different rules as there is time to rearrange that there wasn’t in the qualifying stages
— Sam Smith (@bantammad95) November 6, 2020
Yet Notts County has to forfeit their tie against Kings Lynn in the last round double standards or what from the FA
— Andrew Briggs (@chogger5) November 6, 2020
The rules changed when football league sides joined the @EmiratesFACup?? I knew they would. https://t.co/FJa15kudm2
— (Barry) @thecoldend (@thecoldend) November 6, 2020
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