FA allocate Manchester City and Chelsea cup semi-final following ‘high-risk fixture’ concerns

The Football Association appear to have come to a conclusion regarding the fixture details of Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea in April.

Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players have reached the final four of the competition for a sixth successive season – a new record in English football – following a faultless run in the tournament this season.

A third round drubbing of Championship strugglers Huddersfield Town was followed up by a monumental fourth round win at Tottenham Hotspur, as Nathan Ake scored City’s first-ever goal at the North London club’s new stadium.

The fifth round saw Erling Haaland claim a staggering five-goal haul away to Luton Town, with Kevin De Bruyne providing the assist on four occassions, while Bernardo Silva scored a brace in the quarter-final to dismiss of Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.

City have been pitched against Chelsea at the final-four stage this season, meeting Mauricio Pochettino’s side for the third time this season, having recorded a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge and a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Now, according to the information of MailSport’s Matt Hughes, the Football Association have plotted Manchester City and Chelsea to go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday 20 April, with kick-off scheduled for 17:15 (UK).

It is detailed that the FA were forced to bring forward the other semi-final meeting between Coventry City and Manchester United after the Metropolitan Police deemed the contest to be a ‘high-risk’ fixture.

As such, Erik ten Hag’s side will meet their Championship opponents on Sunday 21 April with kick-off at 15:30 (UK) as opposed to the originally planned 16:00 (UK), after the police expressed public order concerns.

Manchester City’s meeting with Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final will come after the conclusion of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid, with the second-leg at the Etihad Stadium scheduled for the Wednesday prior.

April will also see Manchester City embark on a number of challenging Premier League fixtures, with away visits to the likes of Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, as well as a meeting with Aston Villa at home.