Roses are red, violets are blue; ITV's rubbish, Setanta is too

The Football Association should be ashamed of themselves, handing their TV rights to ITV and Setanta. Put aside the sub-Talksport commentary and analysis on The Yellow Channel. Put aside Robbie Earle and Andy Townsend. (If only ITV would. How did they get their 25-year contracts: do they have photos of Michael Grade doing something unnatural with his cigar?) 

Even put aside for a moment the way the cut-price production values meant that there were about three cameras, all at ground level, for the Portsmouth v Swansea upset – ITV's lead highlight game in the last round. OK, Fratton Park is no Allianz Arena, but it is a Premier League ground. Were ITV trying to up the "romance of the Cup" quotient by making the place look like non-league Frimsdale*.

No, put all that aside, and ask the FA, why did you allow Setanta to show one of the biggest ties – Watford (2007 semi-finalists) v Chelsea (big club in crisis) – at exactly the same time as Wales v England in the rugby. Last year, with the BBC showing games, there was a rolling buffet of football and rugby, slotted in at times to avoid clashes. Now you have to make a choice. Is this what the government meant by allowing greater choice in broadcasting and allowing in Ryanairwaves? If so, it's Hobson's Choice – pay for it or piss off. Setanta is just an extra expense for sports fans who already have to cough for Sky Sports. Then they shaft you if you have the temerity to be interested in any sport they're not showing.

Of course, you could watch the FA Cup game in a pub that has no rugger buggers in it, while Sky+ing the rugby and heading home for that. Except that in an even worse piece of administration, the Valentine's Association has arranged Valentine's Day to be on Saturday 14 February, with no concern for the momentous sporting day they've ruined. So most of us will be slaving over a hot stove whipping up something for the missus, or running about trying to find a flower shop that's open. Cheers, Val.

*Frimsdale not actual place.