BBC bosses are lobbying for another 3pm kick-off for the FA Cup final due to a scheduling clash with the Eurovision Song Contest. The much-anticipated match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City is set to take place at Wembley on Saturday, May 17, marking the pinnacle of English football’s domestic season.
However, the date coincides with the ever-popular Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Basel, Switzerland this year. Last year’s FA Cup final began at 3pm, and the start time for this year’s game will be announced shortly.
The song contest, featuring 26 acts in the grand final, consistently draws high viewership for the BBC. This year, the Grand Final will even be broadcasted in cinemas nationwide, starting at 8pm.
Graham Norton has been confirmed as the host for the 69th edition of Eurovision, with the group Remember Monday representing the United Kingdom.
Remarkably, last year’s Eurovision attracted over eight million viewers, potentially causing a scheduling conflict if the FA Cup final extends beyond regular time.
In the past, the FA Cup final has kicked off at 5.15pm, as was the case for Saturday’s semi-final between Palace and Aston Villa, while the second semi-final between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City started at 4.30pm.
This would not pose an issue if the match concludes within 90 minutes. However, if it goes into extra time or penalties, there could be an overlap with the start of the Eurovision contest and certainly the pre-show build-up.
The BBC and ITV jointly hold the rights to broadcast the FA Cup final, which last year kicked off at 3pm. The Manchester derby saw United triumph over City in a match that attracted 9.1 million viewers.
The traditional 3pm start time is favoured by both purists and fans alike, as it allows those based outside of London to return home post-match.
If the game were to commence at 3pm, it would conclude by 6.30pm at the latest, even if extra time and penalties were required.
The Football Association collaborates with local licensing authorities, police, and the council to determine the kick-off time, taking into consideration factors such as travel, safety, and policing.
This year’s semi-finals took almost a week to organise due to the need for police approval, as the London Marathon was scheduled for the same Sunday, stretching police resources.
However, this year’s request could be influenced by the Eurovision Song Contest.