The Football Association will press ahead with plans to host the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium despite a train strike causing chaos for fans of Manchester United and Manchester City, Express Sport understands. On Thursday, train drivers’ union ASLEF rejected a pay offer from 16 train companies and announced plans for further industrial action.
Train strikes are now set to take place on May 12 and 31, and June 3, hitting some of the biggest train firms including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and South Western Railway. The latter date is the same day of the first-ever all-Manchester FA Cup Final, in addition to the Epsom Derby.
Fans’ travel plans have therefore been thrown into disarray, with tens of thousands set to make the journey from Manchester to London on the day. Some have been left wondering if the FA could make a late decision to move the final further north to accommodate supporters who could miss out.
However, Express Sport understands that the governing body intends to press ahead with its plans to host the event at the national stadium. The FA Cup Final has been held at Wembley since 1923 – except for a five-season period while the stadium was renovated between 2001 and 2007.
The FA is expected to hold talks with both clubs on how best to avoid the impact of the strikes. In 2019, City’s players generously funded 26 coaches for supporters ahead of their 6-0 thrashing of Watford in the final.
Both clubs will liaise with the FA and their fan groups on how to minimise the disruption. Laying on extra coaches could be a possibility.
Both clubs have enjoyed fantastic runs to the final and it will be the first time that the rivals have met in the showcase event. City have cruised past Chelsea, Arsenal, Bristol City, Burnley and Sheffield United to reach the final.
United have seen off Everton, Reading, West Ham, Fulham and Brighton. The latter fixture was an entertaining semi-final settled by a tense penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said: “Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from a pressure group which represents some of the train companies.
“The proposal – of just 4 per cent – was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10 per cent and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years.”
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