By Andrew Warshaw
November 29 – Sponsors of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic knockout competition, have taken the trophy to China in an attempt to generate the same kind of passion that Asia has for the English Premier League.
Millions of fans across the continent adore English league games and the English Football Association, in conjunction with Budweiser, are trying to stir up the same kind of interest for the cup.
The trophy is in Guangzhou this week, on display to thousands of fans in southern China’s largest city, deliberately coinciding with the second round of the tournament next weekend, which is followed by the third round draw, traditionally one of the competition’s most eagerly awaited stages when teams from the top two divisions enter.
Making the draw and also joining the promotional visit to China is former Chelsea hero Gianfranco Zola.
The Italian won the FA Cup twice as a player with Chelsea, in 1997 in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough and a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in 2000, the last to be played under the twin towers at the old Wembley Stadium.
Victoria Wing, senior marketing manager at the FA, said: “The FA Cup with Budweiser has a huge global audience and is broadcast to millions of people in Asia and particularly China.
“To be able to take The FA Cup into these territories is fantastic and underlines the appeal of the competition.
“There is massive interest in the Cup coming to Guangzhou.”
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