Scarborough To Replay FA Cup Tie With Forest Green Rovers

Wednesday, 6 December 2023 21:44

By Paddy

The 1st Round tie will be replayed on Tuesday 12th December, with the winners facing Blackpool away a week later in Round 2.

Scarborough Athletic have tonight posted to their followers this update:

We've just got some big news from The FA. We're replaying The Emirates FA CupFirst Round tie against Forest Green Rovers Footbtall Club at The Flamingo Land Stadium on Tuesday, 12th December at 7.45! The game will be played to a conclusion, and the winners will play Blackpool FC on Tuesday 19th December at Bloomfield Road.

As of now, that's all we've got. We're delighted to be back in the FA Cup and can't wait to share more details with you. Our team is now working round the clock to get everything sorted. We promise to keep you posted ASAP with all the info you need, including ticketing details as early as tomorrow.

Stay tuned, stay excited, and let's get ready to cheer on the Boro!

Speculation was rife following the FA's decision to postpone the 2nd Round tie between Blackpool and Forest Green Rovers on Friday evening, the night before the game was supposed to take place.

The FA said the decision was due to an investigation into whether or not Forest Green fielded an ineligible player in their 1st Round fixture with Boro.

A Statement from the FA reads:

A Professional Game Board Sub-Committee has ordered the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper tie between Forest Green Rovers and Scarborough Athletic to be replayed on Tuesday 12 December at 19:45.

The FA charged Forest Green Rovers for fielding an ineligible player in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper tie against Scarborough Athletic.

This constitutes a breach of FA Cup Rule 109, and Forest Green Rovers subsequently admitted this charge.

Forest Green Rovers will now play away to Scarborough Athletic in a one-off match on Tuesday 12 December.

The winner will travel away to Blackpool for a Second Round Proper match on Tuesday 19 December."

Blackpool FC have released this statement tonight:

Blackpool Football Club acknowledges the outcome of The FA's investigation concerning Forest Green Rovers.

The Club is, however, extremely disappointed at the verdict reached to reschedule our second round fixture to 19 December, and the potential impact this could have on the first-team's schedule during the Christmas period.

Whilst the Club fully appreciates the need for there to be sporting integrity within one of the oldest and most prestigious cup competitions in world football, the manner in which The FA have handled these events in recent days has been bitterly disappointing, and now leaves the squad with the possibility of having to play six matches in just 16 days.

The Club has expressed it's concerns privately to The FA, and will be following up in the coming days to find a suitable resolution which does not impact the first-team schedule so much during what is already an extremely busy fortnight of matches during the festive period.

We will bring you full match commentary on This Is The Coast on Tuesday evening.