The FA Cup match between Man United and Coventry has been pushed ahead

The FA had to move up the kickoff time of Manchester United against Coventry’s FA Cup semi-final next month because the Metropolitan Police considered it to be a “high-risk” game.

According to Mail Sport, Manchester City vs. Chelsea will kick off at 5:15 p.m. on April 21st, and the second FA Cup semi-final will start at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 21st.

The FA is said to have originally asked for a 4 p.m. kickoff for United vs. Coventry, but after discussions with the Met, they decided to start the match 30 minutes early due to concerns the police had about public order.

Later on Friday, the decision is anticipated to be ratified at a meeting of the local Safety Advisory Group, which is also attended by Brent Council.

The FA’s negotiations with the Met are the most recent in a string of recent disputes over kick-off times that are frustrating broadcasters and governing bodies, in this case BBC and ITV.

Later kickoff timings draw larger television viewers and provide more income for advertising; in recent years, nighttime kickoffs have been standard for FA Cup semifinals and finals.

Both FA and EFL sources have privately voiced their displeasure at what appears to be a policy shift from the Met over the past 12 months that has led to the designation of any match between Manchester United and Liverpool as high-risk.

The EFL was incensed last month when they had to move the Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea to 3pm, and Wembley fans were taken aback by the Met’s decision to designate United vs. Coventry as a high-risk match.

The FA is becoming more and more resigned to an earlier kickoff for this season’s final at Wembley on May 25 after having to move last year’s Manchester United vs. Manchester City Cup final to 3pm owing to public order concerns expressed by the Met.

For rights holders ITV, who are also scheduled to show rugby’s Investec Champions Cup final on the same day with a 2:45pm kickoff, such a shift would be very unpleasant.

The Champions Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium cannot be postponed by European Rugby Cup Ltd., which means ITV will have to air two games at the same time on separate networks.

In order to avoid conflicts in France with coverage of the Cannes Film Festival and the League Cup for football, the Champions Cup final will begin at 2:45 p.m.

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