Farnborough face dilemma over glamour tie with Gunners

FA CUP giant-killers Farnborough were last night wrestling with the dilemma of whether to attempt to host their fourth round tie against Arsenal after being handed the added incentive of a £265,000 live TV payment.

The Conference club were discussing with Hampshire police, as well as Arsenal and the Football Association, whether to hold the game at their 4,100 capacity ground or move it to Highbury.

If they are at home, the game will be shown live at 12.30pm on Saturday January 25 on Sky Sports, who will also show another match on Sunday, with Crystal Palace taking on Liverpool at 1pm.

The BBC, who were criticised for choosing an all-Premiership third round tie, will show Manchester United against West Ham at 1pm but will also broadcast giantkillers Shrewsbury Town against Chelsea at 6.30pm.

However, the indications are that although Sky Sports will show Farnborough’s tie live if it takes place at home, given the added chance of an upset, they would not necessarily do so if it was moved to Highbury.

A BSkyB spokesman insisted no final decision had yet been made, although the FA’s announcement of the live TV schedule stressed that a 12.30pm Saturday kick-off was “subject to the tie being played at Farnborough FC”.

Otherwise, Farnborough risk missing out on their £265,000 live TV payment and receiving a much smaller highlights fee. At Highbury, however, not only would more than 5,000 of their fans be able to attend the game, but the non-League club would be entitled to a 50 per cent share of the gate receipts, which would net them a sizeable six-figure sum in any case.

It all adds up to a considerable conundrum, with many of the players preferring the opportunity of a lifetime to play at such a famous Premiership ground.

The FA have made it clear that FA Cup ties can only be switched on “safety and security issues”, and not for financial gain, although much will obviously depend on just how hard Farnborough will try to host the tie at home.

After all, they could attempt to follow the example of Stevenage, who put up a temporary stand for the visit of Newcastle for a fourth round tie in 1998.

Chairman and manager Graham Westley told Sky Sports News: “It’s a tough decision but, at this stage, it is not a financial one.