Outspoken Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has expressed his desire to see teams who field weakened sides in the FA Cup punished by the Football Association.
Bates, 80, believes that the Cup is the most prestigious competition in English football and that Premier League teams that don't field their first XI undermine it.
"You should field your first team in the FA Cup. The dilemma the FA Cup has fallen into is that you now have a 25-man squad to chose from but, if you go to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, they have a rule where a percentage of the players have to play in the next or previous first-team game," said the former Chelsea chairman.
"That should be considered for the FA Cup. And for clubs who do not respect the FA Cup, there are a number of sanctions the FA could do. They could fine them. They could deduct points. But the ultimate sanction would be not to nominate them for Europe.
"Don't forget, every club that plays in Europe is nominated by the FA. Normally it's a rubber-stamp job, but it doesn't have to be. The FA are too weak though."
Bates became the sole owner of Leeds United in May last year.
Barney Corkhill
