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'Only one entry route' UEFA's Welsh denial sends Old Firm message
PRAGUE (Reuters) -- UEFA has rejected a proposal from the Football Association of Wales to allow the three senior Welsh clubs, Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham, the possibility of a route back into European competition via the Welsh FA Cup. Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham were frequent participants in the old European Cup Winners' Cup through the Welsh Cup, but that route was closed off to them after they opted to continue in the English League rather than join the League of Wales when it was established in the 1990s. The FAW recently proposed that Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham who, theoretically at least, could all compete in Europe through winning the English League, FA Cup and League Cup, should also be allowed to qualify for Europe by winning the Welsh FA Cup. But UEFA's executive committee rejected the proposal on Wednesday saying that teams could only take part in the Champions League or UEFA cup by qualifying through the competitions of one national association. Wrexham have won the Welsh Cup 23 times, Cardiff 21 times and Swansea nine times and as a result, all enjoyed a number of European campaigns in the now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup between the early-1960s and the mid-1990s. Cardiff reached the semifinals of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1968 and in all had 15 seasons in Europe, the last in 1993-94. Swansea played seven seasons in that competition, the last in 1991-92 and Wrexham eight times, the last in 1995-96. Since then only part-time clubs like Barry Town and Cwmbran Town have represented Wales in Europe with understandably little or no success. Realistic ambitionsWhile UEFA's decision is important for the Welsh clubs involved, it also sends a clear message to two clubs with more realistic ambitions of Europe: the Glasgow "Old Firm" of Rangers and Celtic. Rangers and Celtic have both been linked with a move to the English Premier League and could be invited to take part in the English League Cup next season as a dry run. But Wednesday's decision means that if Rangers or Celtic did take part in the Premier League, they would not be eligible for Europe through either the Scottish Cup or League Cup and the only avenue open to them for Europe would be if they also played in the English FA Cup and League Cups. In effect, they would cease to be Scottish clubs. UEFA spokesman Mike Lee said: "While there would be nothing to stop Cardiff, Swansea or Wrexham playing in the Welsh Cup if the FA of Wales and the English FA agreed, it could not be used as a route into Europe by those clubs. "While historically it used to be, that changed a number of years ago when the League of Wales was established and Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham opted to stay and play in the English League. They now have only one entry route into Europe -- through the English competitions." By exactly the same principle, if for example, Rangers and Celtic were invited to play in the English League Cup, they would not be eligible for the UEFA Cup if they won that competition. Rangers, in fact, are one of seven Scottish clubs to have played in the English FA Cup and reached the semifinals in 1887 before losing to Aston Villa. Even then, their participation caused controversy and they scratched from the competition the following year under pressure from the Scottish FA. The whole question of Rangers and Celtic playing in England raises far greater issues than that raised by the Welsh clubs, but a principle has been established with Wednesday's decision against them.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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