Lawn angry at TV snub

Mark Lawn said TV bosses should "hang their heads in shame" after choosing not to broadcast Bradford's next FA Cup tie live on television.

The West Yorkshire club won the nation's hearts when fighting back from two goals down to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend in one of the biggest upsets of all time. But neither the BBC or BT Sport will be showing live coverage of their fifth-round tie against either Sunderland or Fulham at Valley Parade. "Whoever made the decisions at the BBC and BT Sport should hang their heads in shame," Lawn said. "They all promote the FA Cup's magic and romance, but where's the magic gone now? "Is there something I'm missing? I don't understand how we can't be one of the five televised games after our efforts last Saturday. "How can they justify it? It's a disgrace." Bradford's game against Sunderland or Fulham is one of only three fifth-round ties that will not be screened live. Blackburn versus Stoke and Derby versus Reading are the other two to miss out. The ties involving West Brom v West Ham, Crystal Palace v Liverpool or Bolton, Aston Villa v Leicester, Arsenal v Middlesbrough and Preston or Sheffield United v Cambridge or Manchester United will be screened live. Lawn said the club felt further aggrieved after losing out on the £247,500 windfall it would have received through television revenue. "That goes to the Premier League clubs because they really need the money don't they?" he added. "Last Saturday got voted on Match of the Day as the biggest shock ever, so surely we deserve to be shown on television in the next round. "It feels as if they've taken all the magic away from us. Where's the romance and magic going to be when they just want to show all the big clubs? "We're thinking of getting T-shirts printed with '#no magic'. For all the neutrals, the magic is in seeing if Bradford can do it again." The BBC said it had considered the fifth-round draw carefully before choosing the fixtures to show live and was hoping to present its Saturday lunchtime show Football Focus from Valley Parade instead. A BBC spokesperson said: "TV match selections have to be decided before the outcome of replays and for that reason, we have selected what we believe to be the best fixtures, given all the potential scenarios. "Providing Bradford City's game is played on Saturday afternoon, we will present Football Focus from Valley Parade to showcase the club's preparations and provide extended highlights on Match of the Day."