Should Cardiff play in Europe?

The Phantom

Simple enough question, if the Bluebirds beat Pompy next month and lift the FA Cup (or Pompy finish 5th and win the cup), should Dave Jones’ men be allowed to participate in the UEFA Cup next season?

For those unfarmilier with the rules, Under current Football Association rules, the Bluebirds would not qualify for the Uefa Cup as Welsh clubs only qualify through their own competitions. However Cardiff City do not play in any competitions under the FAW (apart from the FAW invitational, which holds no European spot for the winner), and therefore cannot qualify via FAW nomination.

For me the outcome is simple. Despite being a Welsh based club, they should be considered an English club, since they (along with Swansea and Wrexham) compete in the English league system. Therefore they have every right to gain European qualification via winning the FA Cup.

Ultimately, if the situation does occur, I do believe UEFA will give them a ‘Wildcard’ into Europe. But I’d like the FA to be big enough to say, yes Cardiff City deserve to represent England in the UEFA Cup.

God

Super Moderator

Why are Cardiff in the English Competitions anyway? I've always wondered but no-one ever seems to know.

The Phantom

From my understanding, it is because up until 1992 there was no professional league in Wales for them to compete in. In 1992, the FAW created the League of Wales. It was only formed because UEFA or FIFA threatened to expel Wales from their competitions, as they had no top flight league of their own.

I’m pretty sure Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Colwyn Bay and Merthyr were offered the chance to compete in the League of Wales, but opted to stay in the English systems, as the competitions were of a higher standard. The League of Wales, was basically (and still is) a glorified Semi Pro League.

Meldrew

I don't agree with Cardiff qualifying for the UEFA via the FA Cup. I still disagree with the exiled clubs expulsion from the Welsh Cup (you forgot those Newport bastards by the way). One of my fondest footie memories is being present as a nipper to watch Merthyr beat Atalanta in the Cup Winners Cup

The LoW is pathteic. The only club to make a proper go of becoming professional and raising the profile of the league (Barry Town) went bust. Hell.. Ebbw Vale went bust & all they did was loan players from Merthyr

The Phantom

I knew I'd forgotten one club!

But why have you got a problem with Cardiff qualifing for the UEFA Cup? The are an English club, albeit based in Wales. It's not as if they play in the League of Wales and only compete in the FA Cup. They have been in the English system since the early 1900's so it's not as if it's a new thing.

If the FA didn't want Cardiff City to qualify for Europe then they shouldn't have ever allowed them to participate in the competition. It was bound to happen one day, weather it was Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, whoever. You can’t have one rule for some, and another rule for everyone else.

Meldrew

They problem I have is Cardiff qualifying via the FA Cup. Cardiff are governed by the Welsh FA as are the other exiles. Every time there's a disciplinary matter you'll notice it. There's some shocking double standards going on there

The Phantom

They're no worse (or better) than The FA.

God

Super Moderator

Cardiff will represent England in next season's Uefa Cup should they win the FA Cup by beating Portsmouth, the Football Association has confirmed.

The decision was taken despite FA rules stating that Welsh clubs can only qualify for Europe through their own national competitions.

The FA also decided that the Welsh national anthem would be played prior to the game at Wembley on 17 May.

Uefa had already hinted they would offer Cardiff a wild card if they won.

Uefa communications director William Gaillard said: "We entirely understood the FA's reasons for their regulations and had no problems with them.
"We just believed that if Cardiff did win the cup and were not given qualification for the Uefa Cup then for sporting reasons we would look to offer them a wild card."


It is not all good news for Cardiff.

If they lose the FA Cup final and Pompey finish fifth in the Premier League table, the Bluebirds will miss out on a place in Europe.
Instead, the FA will give the Uefa Cup berth to the sixth-placed team in the Premier League.

The Phantom

I don't mind that. Fair compromise all around. Now let's hope all this lobbying was worth it!!!

Crocker

Thats always been the case, the rule is that the FA Cup runner up will only go into Europe if the winner qualifies for the Champions League(This stems back to the days of the Cup Winners Cup when the runner up would end up in that tournament if the winner was in the Champions League)