Football Federation Australia will prohibit clubs from streaming FFA Cup games online regardless of whether their matches will be broadcast live or on delay on the pay TV network.
The FFA moved to ensure all FFA Cup games will remain solely on the exclusive broadcast partner, Fox Sports, despite the network showing only one live match per game day in the coming round of 16.
In previous rounds, where Fox Sports did not broadcast games, clubs received the approval of Fox and the FFA to privately film matches and stream games on their website to provide access for fans.
It is understood competing clubs were privately told by the FFA that they will not be permitted to stream any future Cup ties and Fox Sports has not received any direct requests from clubs to telecast games online.
Only one of the four games played each night during the round of 16 will be shown live on Fox Sports, though the network has agreed to provide live crosses and highlights mid-broadcast as a compromise.
The network confirmed it will show the match between Tuggeranong United and Melbourne Victory live at 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 16, as well as the Sydney derby between Sydney United and Sydney FC the following week, Tuesday, September 23, at 7.30pm. Fans wanting to watch any of the other three games each night will be provided with highlights throughout each broadcast.
"On each night, three additional matches from the round of 16 will be contested at the same time as the feature broadcast match and Fox Sports will once again provide previews and live in-game highlights from each contest as it unfolds throughout the night," Fox Sports said in a statement.
The live streaming of FFA Cup games became popular in the first round of matches as it was an affordable means of televising games.
Live streaming was met with the initial approval of the broadcaster, received high viewing numbers online and was a cheap outlay for clubs, costing them as little as $1800 a game.
The FFA Cup game between A-League heavyweights Sydney FC and Melbourne City attracted a live audience of more than 7700, while the footage on YouTube was viewed 71,590 times in the following two weeks.
Meanwhile, the venue for the Sydney FFA Cup derby is yet to be confirmed as FFA is awaiting official certificates to ensure the proposed venue, Sydney United Sports Centre, at Edensor Park, has the required lighting.
