Manchester United and Manchester City will clash in one of the most significant FA Cup finals in history at Wembley Stadium on June 3. And there has reportedly been a rare kick-off change in response to concerns from the Metropolitan Police and fans travelling across the country.
According to the Mail, the 2023 FA Cup final will commence at 3pm for the first time since 2011.
The fixture has been staged in the evening for the past 11 years due to commercial benefits, with 4:45pm the earliest kick-off time during that period.
But the FA Cup is said to have not contested advice from the Met Police to host the first-ever Manchester derby final earlier in the day.
Later kick-off times attracted more interest from advertisers and broadcasters, but the fixture has been classed as ‘high-risk’ due to the two clubs involved and the potential stakes involved.
United could be tasked with preventing City from matching their 1999 treble, while also eyeing the first domestic cup double in the club’s illustrious history.
By June 3, Pep Guardiola’s side could’ve pipped Arsenal to the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final by navigating past holders Real Madrid.
So emotions will be high under the famous arch in north London, which contributed to the Met Police’s request to play the match at the traditional kick-off time.
It will come as a welcome decision by supporters travelling down from Manchester, given it provides more flexibility to get home after full-time.
Fans who venture down from the north are often left scrambling for the last trains of the day after Wembley outings, but there should be a more relaxed post-match atmosphere from 5pm to 7pm.
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City cruised past Premier League promotion hopefuls Sheffield United 3-0 on Saturday, courtesy of Riyad Mahrez’s hat-trick.
A day later, United needed penalties to see off Roberto De Zerbi’s Europe-chasing Brighton and Hove Albion outfit.
Solly March missed the decisive spot-kick in sudden death before Victor Lindelof fired into the top corner to complete a flawless shoot-out by the Red Devils.
But the butterflies in supporters’ stomachs during that climax will undoubtedly feel like nothing compared to the final showdown against United’s history-pursuing noisy neighbours.
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