FA Cup Winners Will No Longer Win Crate Of Champagne

The FA Cup will break from tradition after this season's final between Manchester City and Watford because whoever wins will not get back to their dressing room to find a crate of champagne.

Some will tell you that the magic of the FA Cup has gone but the oldest cup competition in football is still the second most prestigious competition in the country behind the Premier League.

This season had a mix of a lot of all Premier League ties and shocks to leave us with a final four that had only one of the top six in the shape of Manchester City, who were lucky to get past Swansea in the quarter finals.

City will face Watford in the final, after Pep Guardiola's team beat Brighton in their semi final and Watford made a dramatic comeback to beat Wolves in extra time, on 18th May.

Plenty of traditions have changed over the years for the FA Cup final, not least with the kick off time being changed to 5 o'clock in the evening.

Now the FA are set to change one more tradition, according to the Daily Mail, with the winners not being met in their changing room by a crate of champagne after their on pitch celebrations.

No more champagne but these scenes won't be missing. Image: PA Images

The tradition has been going on for a long time and was to wish the winners congratulations, whilst the losers probably had to buy their own alcohol to drown their sorrows, but that will no longer be the case.

Religious beliefs along with more players being t-total and some being too young to drink have all led to the Football Association deciding not to supply alcohol to the winners.

Watford beat Wolves to make it to the final. Image: PA Images

Not to poop any parties, a consideration that stopped the organisation making the decision in the past, the FA will still supply non alcoholic champagne to allow for spraying and pouring into the cup.

An FA spokesman told the newspaper, "Winning teams will be awarded with non-alcoholic 'champagne' for their celebrations in all FA competitions, starting from this year's Emirates FA Cup Final.

"This is to ensure that we are as inclusive as possible to players and communities who may be prohibited from alcohol, as well as any players who are under 18."

No club or player has made a complaint about the tradition but the FA decided to come in line with the Premier League's decision not to give the Man of the Match alcohol.

Topics: Manchester City, Watford, Football News, Chelsea, English Football, Premier League, FA Cup

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

@Sidler28