November
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Uefa have put the future of the FAW Premier Cup in doubt by refusing to allowed the 6 Welsh teams that play in the English system access to European football. They have refused the winners of the competition a European place as well.

Wales are planning to appeal.

Report from Total Wales.
WELSH football suffered a huge blow yesterday when Uefa refused to re-admit the six Welsh clubs in the English pyramid into Europe.

The decision by European foot-ball’s governing body in Geneva will prevent Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport County and Colwyn Bay re-entering European club competition as winners of the Welsh Cup.

Uefa also refused to recognise the FAW Premier Cup as a qualifying tournament for the Champions’ League or the Uefa Cup. BBC Wales had threatened to withdraw its £750,000-a-year sponsorship of the competition unless the winners were granted European entry.

Arthur Emyr, Head of Sport for BBC Wales, said the remaining year of the present three-year contract after this season would be honoured, but urged the Football Association of Wales to appeal against the ruling.

“The committee rejected the FAW application for Welsh clubs in the English pyramid to be reinstated into Europe,” a Uefa spokesperson said. “The position remains unchanged with only clubs in the Welsh pyramid eligible for European competition.”

Wales’s six clubs in the English pyramid have been barred from Europe since 1995, following the creation of the League of Wales. Only clubs from the national league, as recognised by Uefa, have been able to represent Wales in Europe.

David Collins, general secretary of the FAW, was dismayed by the decision, which will be conveyed to the full council at tomorrow’s meeting.

“We were obviously hoping to persuade Uefa to overturn its decision,” he said. “This is a big setback.

“We were working towards getting our leading clubs back into Europe. We felt it was vital to have clubs like Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham competing with League of Wales clubs in the Welsh Cup for European status.

“Since those clubs have been excluded, it has been exceptionally difficult to take the Welsh Cup forward, and smaller clubs have missed the attraction of the chance to play the big three from the Football League.

“As Uefa have refused to recognise our six clubs in the English pyramid, there will be no opportunity for the winners of
the FAW Premier Cup to compete in Europe.

“I’m hoping that BBC Wales don’t pull the plug after next year because we have done everything in our power to try to satisfy them.

“We thought we had put forward a strong case. We outlined our reasons for the clubs to be re-admitted in some detail, and took the opportunity while we were in Tokyo for the World Cup draw to lobby some of the Uefa members involved.”

Part of the submission was that Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham were in no man’s land because they would not be allowed to represent England in Europe in the unlikely event of one of them winning the FA Cup.

“Those three clubs are being barred on two counts but that doesn’t seem to have held any sway with Uefa,” added Collins.

In order for the six clubs to be accepted by Uefa, they would have to join the League of Wales, but Collins said that was not an option at present.

Emyr said, “If Uefa has rejected the Welsh FA plea it’s very disappointing and I hope they will appeal.

“It’s sad because it stunts the growth potential of Welsh football. Clearly it impacts on any broadcaster involved with the game in Wales. It does not allow Welsh football to fulfil its potential which is a great pity.”

Emyr said BBC Wales anticipated that FAW Premier Cup winners would gain entry into Europe when it agreed to sponsor the competition.

“It has been a mid-term objective to get the Premier Cup winners recognised by Uefa and, I have to say, it seems a very harsh judgment that one of the smallest associations in Europe is subject to this sort of decision.

“I fail to see how it was made in the best interests of football in Wales, which should be the main concern of any ruling body.”

Report from the Daily Mirror.

WALES'S top three clubs last night had the door slammed shut on their re-entry into European football.

Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham were desperately hoping UEFA would have a change of heart over the policy which has seen them excluded since 1995. But their plea, presented by the FA of Wales, has fallen on deaf ears.

That means League of Wales clubs such as Barry Town and Cwmbran will continue to carry the flag for Wales in the Champions League and UEFA Cup - and continue to take heavy beatings. The Swans, Cardiff and Wrexham were turfed out of Europe four years ago when they were told winning the Welsh Cup would no longer earn them a place in the Cup Winners' Cup because they played their League football in England. UEFA based their decision on the creation of the League of Wales, which they ruled should provide the route into all European competitions.

The decision of the big three to remain in the Nationwide League meant their route into Europe was blocked. FAW secretary general David Collins slammed last night's decision and insisted the FAW would consider an immediate appeal.

"It's a very disappointing decision and is certainly a big blow for Welsh football," said Collins.

"We stressed that we were a special case and the detrimental effect the exclusion of our leading teams was having on Welsh football.

"But we were turned down and that is a huge disappointment."

Wrexham managing director David Rhodes said: "This is very bad news because the denial of European football has hit everyone in the Welsh game.

"Wrexham and the others had proud traditions in the European tournaments and we were hopeful UEFA would see the sense in allowing us back."

The decision could also cast a huge doubt over the future of the FAW Premier Cup, which has provided Welsh clubs with pounds 1.5million over the past two seasons.

BBC Wales had threatened to end their backing at the end of this season if the winners were not given a place in Europe.