The English Football Association has rejected a plan – known as ‘Prosiect Cymru’ for Welsh EFL clubs to qualify for European competitions via a Welsh domestic cup.
Four Welsh teams, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County had been working with the Football Association of Wales on a planned new Welsh League Cup.
The cup would have allowed the four EFL sides to qualify for European competitions.
But after concerns were raised by the EFL and a number of member clubs, the English FA stepped in.
Its board ruled to block the Welsh plan following a meeting on Thursday.
The FA said it rejected proposals after “concerns raised by stakeholders regarding competition integrity, fixture congestion and player welfare, and the impact on the standing of existing competitions”.
FA Wales ‘Disappointed’ By English FA Decision
After news broke of the English FA’s decision, the FAW expressed its disappointment at the ruling.
It argued that the new competition would have been ‘game-changing’ for all levels of Welsh football.
The full proposals, titled Prosiect Cymru (project Wales), were first announced in September.
All four Welsh EFL sides could have joined the 12 Cymru Premier clubs in a 16-team cup competition.
The clubs were broadly supportive, while UEFA had also given its approval for the new cup.
Estimates from the FAW suggest as much as £3m a season could have been generated in revenue, to be invested back into grassroots and women’s football in Wales.
The EFL, however, were concerned by the possibility of fixture congestion.
Another issue was the financial advantage that European competition could give to Welsh clubs over the English sides in the same league.
According to the FAW, clubs would not have included European revenues in their PSR accounting.
But the benefit from extra tickets, broadcast deals and possible sponsorships was still a major concern for the English league and FA.
On top of this, Welsh clubs in Europe would likely be a more attractive destination for new signings, again giving those sides an advantage over their English counterparts.
English FA Give Statement On Prosiect Cymru
Following their decision, the English FA provided a statement on their ruling.
It read: “As part of the request, the Welsh clubs would forfeit their existing right to qualify for Uefa club competitions through the English system whilst they remained members of the EFL.
“The Welsh clubs would then seek to qualify for Uefa competition via the English system should they be promoted to the Premier League.
“As a result of the request, the FA undertook a thorough consultation with stakeholders and invited submissions from the Welsh clubs.
“Following careful consideration, taking into account various factors including equal opportunity for clubs to participate in the same competitions, for the same rewards on an equal basis; concerns raised by stakeholders regarding competition integrity, fixture congestion and player welfare, and the impact on the standing of existing competitions, the FA Board has rejected the request.
“It was noted that it is open to the Welsh clubs to choose whether or not to participate in the English or Welsh system based on their own assessment of the relative merits of participation in each system, but if they choose to participate in the English system they must do so on the same basis as the English clubs which participate in that system.”
