Chelsea anger over FA Cup schedule

Chelsea were left fuming on Friday after their request to reschedule next month's FA Cup semi-final clash with Tottenham was turned down. The Premier League side were notified that the Wembley semi-final has been set for 6:00 pm (1700 GMT) on Sunday, April 15, with the club possibly set to face a Champions League semi-final three days later. Chelsea had requested the match be moved to Friday April 13 in order to allow them to prepare for a possible last-four meeting in the Champions League with either Barcelona or AC Milan. "We've tried to communicate with the FA and co-operate with the FA," Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo said. "It's probably disappointing, I'd say that common sense hasn't prevailed. "We've tried to cooperate with the authorities and given them our point of view. It seems that it's not been really taken into consideration. "I'd be happy with a Friday night kick-off, yes. That's what I'd be happy with." The all-London semi-final could not take place on Saturday April 14 as that date sees the other semi-final between Liverpool and Everton. Liverpool had insisted on playing on April 14 to avoid having to play on April 15 -- the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.