The FA are considering a rule change as part of an annual into the FA Youth Cup following a clash regarding the venue for the recent final involving the two Manchester clubs
Man City beat Man United in the Youth Cup final - but the choice of venue was a major talking point
Man City beat Man United in the Youth Cup final - but the choice of venue was a major talking point(Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
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The FA are considering a rule change regarding the stadium that hosts the final of the FA Youth Cup Final following the bad blood that arose before Manchester City's recent win over Manchester United.
The two teams met in the final, which was won 2-1 by those on the blue half of the town, but the showpiece event was played at City's 6,447-capacity women’s ground, which is just across the road from their Etihad Stadium base.
Under current rules the team which is drawn first hosts the showpiece fixture and City were within their rights to choose the stadia, but United had offered to hold it at Old Trafford so that their stars of the future could play in front of a capacity crowd and at an iconic venue.
That offer was turned down, which led to backlash from those in red. The club’s academy staff were less than impressed and The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust and members of the club’s fans’ forum subsequently called on the FA to intervene and called the decision a "disgrace".
The Daily Mail now understands that the FA are reviewing the situation and weighing up a rule change as part of an annual competition review, which would mean such a contentious issue won't arise again in the future.
One solution, should the authorities choose to make a change, would be to stipulate that any host who choose not to stage the final at their ‘main’ stadium, would then have to see it switched to the home of their opponents.
After City claimed victory United coach Darren Fletcher hit out at the FA's handling of the situation and the manner in which their rivals lapped up their success. He said: "I'm disappointed in the FA for everything that's gone around this game: for the location, for everything.
Darren Fletcher didn't shy away from speaking his mind after the final
Darren Fletcher didn't shy away from speaking his mind after the final
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"You have to respect the opposition. But not when Man City take over an FA Youth Cup. It's an FA competition. It should never have been like that. I've never heard individual coaches be shouted out and every individual player be shouted out. That doesn't happen in cup finals.
"It's an FA competition and it felt like it was a Man City competition for this whole build-up to the game and in terms of how we had to deal with that at the end. That's my one gripe for tonight. But the best team won, compliments to them."
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