FA deny Chelsea semi-final request

The FA have ruled against staging Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final clash with Tottenham Hotspur 36 hours earlier than planned. The Blues asked permission to bring their April 15 clash with Spurs forward in a bid to avoid a fixture pile up. Roberto Di Matteo's men may have to play a Champions League semi-final two days later, should they overcome Benfica in the quarter-final. However, FA sources have claimed that the police are against holding a huge tie on a Friday evening, according to The Sun.