Nóng: FA Cup quarter-final draw suspected of being rigged?

The FA Cup quarter-final draw that just took place instantly ignited debate because Liverpool must confront Manchester City, whereas Arsenal and Chelsea got draws that are relatively more manageable.

The draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals of the 2025/26 season triggered a fierce wave of reactions from the fan community. The focus of attention centered on the fact that the two giants Manchester City and Liverpool will have to eliminate each other early at Etihad Stadium. This is considered the toughest challenge possible, especially since both are top contenders for the championship.

Contrary to the drama of the "early final" matchup, Arsenal and Chelsea received draws that are deemed extremely favorable. The Gunners only need to travel to Southampton's ground—a team currently playing in the Championship—while Chelsea will host Port Vale, a representative sitting at the bottom of the League One table.

The huge disparity in difficulty among the matchups inevitably led fans to doubt the transparency of the draw balls.

Immediately after the results were announced, Liverpool fans were the group that reacted most strongly. They believe their team is consistently "tormented" by the toughest draws, while direct competitors comfortably face lower-tier teams.

An angry fan expressed on social media: “I am convinced that the FA Cup is always arranged to disadvantage Liverpool. We continuously face the most difficult teams, while other Premier League clubs frequently encounter weaker seeded teams. This is truly becoming absurd.”

Similarly, another fan questioned the unbelievable luck of their rivals: “How can the FA Cup be so manipulated? Arsenal again meets a First Division team, while we have to play away against Manchester City????”

Even some extreme opinions asserted that the final had been predetermined: “It’s arranged for Chelsea to meet Arsenal in the final.”

Aside from unsubstantiated conspiracy theories, the clash between Manchester City and Liverpool remains a match that cannot be missed. Although Pep Guardiola's squad has won both encounters against The Kop this season, Liverpool still holds faith in history. The last time the two teams met in the FA Cup (semifinals 2021/22), Liverpool secured a convincing victory to advance to the title.

Meanwhile, Arsenal must be cautious against Southampton to maintain their ambition for a "quadruple," and Chelsea cannot afford to underestimate Port Vale, which already created a miracle in the previous round. The quarter-final matches are scheduled for April 4th and 5th, promising to be the most resounding answer to all doubts about the fairness of the tournament.