FA Cup final kickoff move hits Asian TV audiences

Published May. 13, 2011 11:40 a.m. ET

foxsports

The FA Cup final is set to be moved from its traditional kickoff time starting next season in a bid to boost British TV audiences, which would make it harder for Asian football fans to watch the match live.

Saturday's final of world football's oldest knockout competition will start at 3 p.m. at Wembley Stadium as usual, but Football Association chairman David Bernstein wants to push the kickoff back by more than two hours in future.

''We think we will be moving to a later FA Cup final kickoff, at 5:15pm which is potentially more popular with viewers,'' Bernstein said. ''There was some reluctance in research to do that but all in all, it is a good move that will increase the TV value of the competition.''

A 5:15 p.m. start in London would be 1:15 a.m. in Tokyo and 12:15 a.m. in Hong Kong.

Manchester City takes on Stoke in Saturday's final.