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FA Cup Semi Finalists face Euro exclusion

March 10, 2008

FA Cup Semi Finalists Cardiff City face exclusion from European Competitions should they lift the trophy in May.

The Bluebirds have been handed the “easiest” draw on paper, facing Barnsley at Wembley during the first weekend in April. Yet after knocking both Liverpool and Chelsea out of this season’s competition, boss Dave Jones will not be taking any chances and underestimating their League One rivals.

Yet should the Welshmen lift the coveted trophy for the first time since 1927, the success will be tinged with slight disappointment following the news that they will be excluded from the following season’s UEFA Cup competition.

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UEFA competition regulations stipulate that Welsh sides cannot participate in European competitions as England’s representatives irrespective of their performance in the FA Cup.

From UEFA’s point of view, the situation is simple – non-English sides cannot represent England in their competitions – end of story. They will point to the fact that if sides such as Cardiff, Wrexham and Swansea wish to enter European competitions then the door is open to them through the Welsh League and Cups. Yet trips to TNS and Merthyr Tydfil are not as glamorous as going to Old Trafford or semi finals at Wembley and therefore the Welsh teams focus their attentions on the English equivalents.

I can see both sides to this argument as the Welsh teams are invited by the FA to compete in the FA Cup and thus are representing them in this regard anyway. Cardiff would be representing the English FA and not England – therefore I see no fundamental problem with them should they lift the FA Cup in May.

However, I can also see the point of view which suggests that the English FA should be represented by English teams and to include Welsh teams in this would be incoherent with the English FA’s sense of identity. If this is the case then the issue could then be extended to whether Welsh teams should be allowed to compete in the FA Cup at all – especially given the fact that the full benefit of winning the competition are not open to them.

Should Cardiff reign victorious in May there is sure to be some sleepless nights for UEFA officials as there no doubt will be some form of appeal – possibly along the lines of Liverpool’s successful crusade in 2005. If this appeal is unsuccessful the the UEFA Cup spot would be awarded to the runners up - Millwall were the last team to benefit from this following defeat by Manchester United in 2003. Their run didnt last long like but at leat they got into Europe!

It is sure to be an interesting few weeks for the Bluebirds but don’t be surprised to see Sepp Blatter in a Barnsley shirt come the first week of April.

Written by The Pieman · Filed Under FA Cup 


Comments

3 Responses to “FA Cup Semi Finalists face Euro exclusion”

  1. Andrew Webb on March 10th, 2008 8:50 pm

    You have made a mistake.
    The Runners up of the FA Cup do get a UEFA Cup place regardless of who they are.
    Millwall did benefit in 2004 as they were runners up and it happens all the time.
    The Runners UP DO GET A UEFA Cup place EVERY YEAR!

  2. The Pieman on March 11th, 2008 9:03 am

    Thanks for your comments Andrew.

    Doesnt this depend on the final Premiership standings?

    So for example if Everton won the FA Cup and finished in a UEFA cup spot in the league the runners up would enter Europe.

    If Wigan won the FA Cup and didnt finish in a UEFA cup spot then only the cup winners would go into Europe.

    Is the current trend not based around the fact that the FA Cup winners have always finished in a European spot over recent seasons and therefore the runners up been handed a European place too?

    You mention Millwall which is a great example, but if they had been beaten by say Sunderland, would they still have qualified for Europe as runners up?

    Im not so sure but I dont think so?

  3. Daz on March 16th, 2008 2:24 pm

    The Pieman is quite correct, the runners up of the FA Cup only get a UEFA cup spot when the winners of the FA Cup qualify for Europe through another route, usually the Champions League through their league position.

    That won’t happen this time because none of the 4 semi finalists will qualify for Europe via the league.

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