Fight to see Bradford City’s FA Cup match on TV reaches parliament

SUPPORTERS of Bradford City could have been forgiven for assuming that their giant-killing victory over Chelsea in the weekend’s FA Cup fourth round would have seen them rewarded with a televised fifth round match.

However the decision of broadcasters not to screen the League One side’s fifth round home tie with either Sunderland or Fulham has provoked outrage in the city, and anger which has now reached the House of Parliament.

Sports Minister Helen Grant has been urged to intervene to persuade broadcasters to screen the next step of Bradford City’s FA Cup adventure, with Bradford West MP George Galloway having raised the snub in the form of an Early Day Motion, saying that BBC and BT Sport’s decision “betrays a fundamental lack of knowledge about football”.

The decision was slammed by City joint-chairman Mark Lawn.

Mr Galloway has asked Ms Grant to “impress on broadcasters the error of this decision” and attempt to persuade them to change it.

Clubs shown live on television in round five receive £247,500.

BT Sport have opted to screen West Bromwich Albion versus West Ham, Crystal Palace versus Liverpool or Bolton and Arsenal versus Middlesbrough.

The BBC have selected Aston Villa versus Leicester City and Preston North End or Sheffield United versus Cambridge United or Manchester United.