Why proposed changes to Women's FA Cup have caused outrage as detailed plans outlined

"The Football Association has outlined plans for a significant overhaul of the Women's FA Cup that would fundamentally change how the competition is drawn and ultimately who benefits from it. Central to the proposal is the introduction of seeding for the first time. The top four teams from the previous season's Women's Super League would be kept apart in the draw, theoretically preventing them from facing each other until the latter stages."

"The FA also wants to replace the traditional round-by-round draw from the last 32 with a fixed, 'road-to-Wembley' bracket, mapping out each club's route to the final in advance mirroring a World Cup-style journey. Rather than fresh draws after every round, which has been a longstanding part of the FA Cup's magic and unpredictability, teams would know their potential opponents all the way to Wembley."

"Other changes under discussion include tweaks to the scheduling of ties and an "entry tier review" for lower-league clubs, focus on minimum stadium standards being met. In its current format, the Women's FA Cup mirrors the men's competition. There are preliminary and qualifying rounds for lower-tier sides before Women's National League and Championship teams enter, with the 12 WSL clubs joining at the fourth round stage."

Seeding would keep the previous season’s top four WSL teams apart in early rounds, preventing early high-profile matchups between them. A fixed 'road-to-Wembley' bracket from the last 32 would map each club’s potential opponents through to the final, replacing fresh round-by-round draws. Intended aims include boosting revenue and creating more high-profile fixtures. Additional proposals cover scheduling tweaks, an entry-tier review for lower-league clubs and stricter minimum stadium standards. The current format mirrors the men's competition with preliminary rounds followed by entries from National League, Championship and the 12 WSL clubs at the fourth round stage. Critics warn these changes could erode cup unpredictability.

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