Platini wants UEFA Cup wild card chance for Cardiff - April 7, 2008

European soccer's governing body UEFA is to consider giving Cardiff City a wildcard into the UEFA Cup should they win the FA Cup, a spokesman said.

The Championship (second division) team beat Barnsley 1-0 yesterday to earn a May 17 final berth against Portsmouth, the first time they have reached the final since they became the only non-English side to win the FA Cup in 1927.

However, under FA rules they would not be able to play in Europe if they win as Welsh clubs can only qualify through their own competitions.

The FA have previously said they would re-examine the rule, which seems to be based on practise and tradition rather than a decision made by any of its various committees, and UEFA president Michel Platini has said he would try to support their case.

That pledge appeared to have firmed up when UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said: "Our president has asked the executive committee to look at the possibility of a wildcard.

"From our point of view it would be sad if they win the FA Cup and cannot compete in Europe," he told www.bbc.co.uk.

"So we will be suggesting this to the executive committee. There is a lot of sympathy for Cardiff and I would expect it to go their way."

Gaillard said, however, that no decision would be made before the final.

Cardiff regularly represented Wales in the defunct European Cup Winners' Cup via the Welsh Cup and coach Dave Jones said he wants a return.

"If we happen to win the FA Cup or Portsmouth get into Europe via sixth spot, the European place should go to the other club in the final," he said after yesterday's Wembley win. "Platini has come out and said if it does happen we deserve to be there. We should do.

"Politically, it is a minefield. If we win it then we should go into Europe. There are two or three million people in Cardiff and they will all be banging on the door. There will be all hell to pay if we don't get in and I will be first in the queue."