Cardiff City, the only non English club to win the FA Cup, may be able to play in Europe next season if they can lift the trophy by beating Portsmouth in Wembley. The Championship side eliminated giant-killers Barnsley, who had knocked out both Liverpool and Chelsea earlier, in the semifinals by beating them 1-0, with Joe Ledley scoring. The Bluebirds had also beaten Middlesbrough in the sixth round. Under FA rules, the winners of the FA Cup get a UEFA Cup spot. But as Cardiff are a Welsh side, the Football Association are apparently not willing to accept them as one of England’s representatives.
According to reports, the UEFA spokesman William Gaillard has said that Platini has asked the executive committee to look into the possibility of a wildcard for the Bluebirds should they able to beat Portsmouth.
Cardiff do not play in the Welsh Cup, with the Football Association of Wales disallowing all clubs that play in England from 1995.
Cardiff’s only FA Cup triumph came on 23 April , 1927 when they beat Arsenal, then captained by Charles Buchan 1-0.
Portsmouth are strong favourites to lift the club. They beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 in the semifinals, although Baggies fans may think that their club did not deserve to lose after having looked the better side for most of the match.
The FA Cup final will be played on May 17.
What Cardiff just did is historical, but impossible is nothing…
I doubt the FA will allow Cardiff as England’s UEFA Cup representatives.
If UEFA are looking into the possibility of awarding them a wildcard should they win a trophy, does it mean Pompey will still go figure in next seasons’s tournament, irregardless of what they do on May 17 ??