Police face FA Cup headache

THE Metropolitan Police are in talks with the FA about rescheduling some of next month’s FA Cup third-round ties after the draw produced a security nightmare for the force. In a quirk of fate all seven of London’s Premier League clubs have been drawn at home, as have Millwall and QPR.

The ties are due to be played between Friday January 5 and Monday January 8, with the precise timings yet to be determined. Police are expected to have a strong input into the scheduling due to the logistical challenge and could bring some matches forward. To compound matters for the Met much of their policing resource is being taken up by marshalling the weekly pro-Palestine marches in central London on Saturdays. In another unfortunate twist both Luton and Watford have also been drawn at home so Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police will also be in for a busy weekend.

The Met Police and FA declined to comment.