Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has defended the first ever renaming of the FA Cup, insisting that the money made from the new sponsorship deal with Emirates will benefit the game.
It was announced ahead of today's 2015 final that, as of next season, football's oldest knockout competition would be rebranded as the Emirates FA Cup.
The three-year deal is thought to be worth around £30m, and Dyke said that the money would mainly be invested in grass-roots football.
"I know there will be traditionalists who take issue with the subtle renaming, but all of the money the FA receives from partnerships such as this goes back to the game at all levels," Dyke said, according to PA.
"I want and expect to increase our funding into the very areas that need it most - grass-roots facilities, coaching and young player development. Partnerships like this only enhance our opportunity to support football throughout the country.
"The money we receive from this will all get spent building new all-weather pitches around the country. And I think that is worth the deal."
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Pascal Lemesre
