FA Cup final could be hit by scheduling chaos with Championship sides set to cause major headache

THE FA CUP final could be hit with major scheduling chaos due to the date of the Championship playoff final.

That is because the FA Cup final scheduled for May 25 is just one day before the Championship playoff final on May 26.

GettyThe FA Cup final faces a schedule clash with the Championship playoff final[/caption]

GettyPromotion-hunting Leicester or Leeds could see a playoff final date clash with the FA Cup final[/caption]

As it stands, four Championship teams remain in the FA Cup; Coventry, Leicester, Leeds and Southampton, with the latter two in action tonight against Chelsea and Liverpool respectively.

Each of these teams is in the hunt for promotion, which may lead them to the Wembley playoff final.

Leicester are runaway leaders at the top of the second tier but could be clawed back by the likes of Ipswich and Leeds, who are level on points with the final automatic promotion spot up for grabs.

Southampton are close behind them and sit fourth in the table and firmly in the playoff spots based on points.

Meanwhile, Coventry are just five points outside of the playoff positions.

The magic of the FA Cup means any of these four could make the Wembley final.

However, with the FA Cup final so close to the playoff final it could cause a real headache for event organisers.

Since the Championship playoffs were introduced in 1987, such an event has never occurred, with second-tier sides who have made the FA Cup final not appearing in the playoff final.

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With such an event never happening before, paired with moving dates of the fixtures from season-to-season, there is no pre-determined plan for it.

SunSport understands that in the event this does occur, the Championship game would be moved to facilitate the FA Cup, with the EFL making a final decision on a prospective new date.

But before all of that, there are FA Cup quarter and semi-finals to contend with, not to mention the rest of the Championship season.

SunSport have simulated the draw for the last eight, with a tasty Manchester derby on offer if injury-stricken Manchester United can beat Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

There is also the chance for an all-Championship tie between Leicester and Southampton if the Saints can overcome Carabao Cup winners Liverpool.

The real draw commences tonight at 7pm.

You can keep up with the draw with SunSport’s live blog.