FA Cup: Football Association confirms partnership talks still ongoing amid Emirates links

A Football Association spokesman has confirmed discussions regarding FA Cup partner opportunities are still ongoing amid widespread rumours that the competition is set to be re-branded following an agreement with Emirates Airlines.

Reports that first surfaced on 28 April suggested the governing body had secured a three-year sponsorship deal with the Dubai-based company that would see the world's oldest and most prestigious domestic cup competition renamed the Emirates FA Cup.

Such an arrangement could be worth more than £10m ($15m) a year, with the cup having been without a sponsor since Anheuser-Busch-owned beer brand Budweiser ended its three-year partnership in 2014.

Prior to that, energy firm Eon sponsored the competition between 2006 and 2010. The League Cup, meanwhile, has had various title sponsors over the years and was renamed the Capital One Cup in 2012.

However, despite the apparent strength of such speculation that the cup is edging closer to title sponsorship, the FA has been keen to stress talks remain in progress with more than one possible partner.

"We remain in discussion with a number of parties in relation to FA Cup partner opportunities," a spokesman told Business Insider.

The 2015 FA Cup final will be contested between holders Arsenal, who already have a sponsorship agreement with Emirates Airlines that includes stadium naming rights, and Aston Villa at Wembley on 30 May following their victories over Reading and Liverpool respectively.