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FA Cup semi-finalists Portsmouth ineligible for Europa League next season - report
No Euro trips for Pompey...
9 Mar 2010 14:10:00
By Alex Dimond
Portsmouth would be ineligible for the Europa League next season, should they qualify, according to a report from The Portsmouth News.
The financially beleaguered club are currently in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, a competition that offers a Europa League place to the highest-placed finisher that has not already qualified for European competition.
But the News is reporting that the club have not applied for their 2010-11 UEFA club license, meaning they would be unable compete in European competition next season even if they qualified. The paper claims that both the Premier League and Football Association have confirmed the story.
March 1 was the deadline for all club applications for the license this season, but with Pompey's uncertain financial situation they were unable to submit the completed and audited reports that are a requirement of the process.
The UEFA club license was introduced ahead of the 2004-05 season, with stipulations and regulations that must be met by every club hoping to be admitted to any of the UEFA club competitions.
"These minimum requirements cover many matters including legal declarations, audited accounts, settlement of debts, additional financial disclosures and financial budgets with supporting assumptions, among the 34 specific criteria," the UEFA website states.
"These common minimum standards are contributing to improving the business credibility of club operations and act as an engine on the road to better transparency and governance of clubs and national associations."
The regulations were not a problem for the club in 2008, when the south coast club competed in their first European campaign after Harry Redknapp guided the club to a famous FA Cup victory against Cardiff City.
But two years on, with relegation from the Premier League looking a certainty, a similar outcome looks unlikely. Had Portsmouth beaten Fulham or Tottenham in their FA Cup semi-final on the weekend of April 10, then they would almost certainly have qualified for the Europa League, win or lose.
Manchester United's victory in the League Cup final means the sixth place in the Premier League is now guaranteed a place in the Europa League.
With both the other FA Cup semi-finalists, Chelsea and Aston Villa, likely to qualify for Europe through the league, Portsmouth would have been guaranteed a Europa League spot had they reached the final.
But with Portsmouth now seemingly ineligible, the berth will revert to the Premier League and seventh place, with teams like Everton and Birmingham City likely to profit from Pompey's misfortune.
Adminstrator Andrew Andronikou did not rule out a place in Europe though.
"Let's get into Europe first and then worry about the club licence," he told reporters.
Andronikou did confirm that the club's continued participation in the FA Cup was not at threat though.
"The FA are fully supportive of us and they want us to succeed and get to the other end," he aserted.
The financially beleaguered club are currently in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, a competition that offers a Europa League place to the highest-placed finisher that has not already qualified for European competition.
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But the News is reporting that the club have not applied for their 2010-11 UEFA club license, meaning they would be unable compete in European competition next season even if they qualified. The paper claims that both the Premier League and Football Association have confirmed the story.
March 1 was the deadline for all club applications for the license this season, but with Pompey's uncertain financial situation they were unable to submit the completed and audited reports that are a requirement of the process.
The UEFA club license was introduced ahead of the 2004-05 season, with stipulations and regulations that must be met by every club hoping to be admitted to any of the UEFA club competitions.
"These minimum requirements cover many matters including legal declarations, audited accounts, settlement of debts, additional financial disclosures and financial budgets with supporting assumptions, among the 34 specific criteria," the UEFA website states.
"These common minimum standards are contributing to improving the business credibility of club operations and act as an engine on the road to better transparency and governance of clubs and national associations."
The regulations were not a problem for the club in 2008, when the south coast club competed in their first European campaign after Harry Redknapp guided the club to a famous FA Cup victory against Cardiff City.
But two years on, with relegation from the Premier League looking a certainty, a similar outcome looks unlikely. Had Portsmouth beaten Fulham or Tottenham in their FA Cup semi-final on the weekend of April 10, then they would almost certainly have qualified for the Europa League, win or lose.
Manchester United's victory in the League Cup final means the sixth place in the Premier League is now guaranteed a place in the Europa League.
With both the other FA Cup semi-finalists, Chelsea and Aston Villa, likely to qualify for Europe through the league, Portsmouth would have been guaranteed a Europa League spot had they reached the final.
But with Portsmouth now seemingly ineligible, the berth will revert to the Premier League and seventh place, with teams like Everton and Birmingham City likely to profit from Pompey's misfortune.
Adminstrator Andrew Andronikou did not rule out a place in Europe though.
"Let's get into Europe first and then worry about the club licence," he told reporters.
Andronikou did confirm that the club's continued participation in the FA Cup was not at threat though.
"The FA are fully supportive of us and they want us to succeed and get to the other end," he aserted.
"There is no chance of us being kicked out of the FA Cup."
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|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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