English FA - try to absorb Cardiff and Swansea Football Club

The Welsh football association (FAW) has managed to keep Cardiff City and Swansea City under its jurisdiction despite a strong push by the English Football Associatopn to claim the two clubs, reports the Western Mail. The English FA wants to absorb the two clubs to resolve disciplinary matters and for other football governance issues. However, FAW felt that this was a bit of muscle flexing by the English FA and use the UEFA rules to fight for their stance.

The details of the dialogue so far were revealed during a FAW council meeting in Cardiff last week. As an unnamed FAW member put it, “We’re led to believe this was an example of England trying to flex their muscles, but not getting their way. UEFA rules quite firmly dictate that clubs come under the jurisdiction of the Association where they are domiciled. In the case of Cardiff and Swansea, that is Wales. As such, England were told in no uncertain terms the two clubs must remain under our umbrella ... at least for the time being. We can’t have anybody trying to dictate to us. As such, the FAW hierarchy who stood up to them received a round of applause from every single one of us, and rightly so.”

The issue has come up because many clubs in the English system feel that Cardiff and Swansea get an easy ride with the Welsh FA especially in regard to matters of player discipline. Interestingly, the Bluebirds and Swans feel that they get unduly harsh treatment from the agency. So, in a sense there is interest from multiple parties for a change in the current arrangement. FAW and English FA have agreed to have a “collaborative dialogue” over the next twelve months to work out the matter of jurisdiction.

Also, if either of the teams is promoted they will have to go with the English FA. The Premier League is introducing new rules stipulating that teams can only play in the competition if they are affiliated to the English FA. As the FAW member said, “Under those circumstances, and Cardiff are pushing hard for promotion this year, it would be hard for us to stand in their way.”

We cant complain if we come under the English umbrella.

Maybe it would also mean we could qualify for Europe?

better off in the english fa.welsh fa do nothing for us if they want to keep us let us back into the welsh cup

I can't for the life of me figure out why we are with the FAW. Can anyone explain to me what good they do for us? We play in the Enlgish League, always have done, so I don't see why we are not governed by the FA. Also I can't see why or how the FAW can make decisions like that about us, surely it should be the choice of Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham.

Traditionally, we've not had too much change from the FAW in disciplinary matters....but that has 'appeared' to have changed in the last couple of years thanks in part to Dave Jones publicly moaning about the 'injustices'

A case in point was the (odd and ultimately futile) rescinding of Prior's red card a couple of years back

Personally, I think we should come under the FA considering we are a professional club in their professional competitions. the FAW is, ultimately, an amateur organisation in substance and are not really suited to assisting the english-based clubs

The 'boast' of applause at the decision sums it up for me, as it was all about THEM and not about US

Traditionally, we've not had too much change from the FAW in disciplinary matters....but that has 'appeared' to have changed in the last couple of years thanks in part to Dave Jones publicly moaning about the 'injustices'

Dave Jones hasn't exactly moaned about the decisions, he's simply gone in there and argued the valid points. That's not moaning, that's simply putting your case across.
The biggest problem with the FAW when dealing with Dave Jones is they never got their facts right before hand.

Stick us in the English FA and put an end to any "you're in our league" rubbish and any details regarding european qualification. Do we pay the Welsh FA to be members? Maybe they get most money from us and the Jacks and are desperate not to let go.

Trust the FAW to see it as strong arm tactics by the FA, when the FA are just putting forward a common sense that the two clubs want anyway.

It has been suggested that the Premier League will soon change their governing rules to state that membership of their league will be by promotion from the Championship AND affiliation to the FA, so that buggers us unless the FAW stop trying to big big boys when they in fact govern a smal league.

On the plus side it was good to see that the rules governing the new 25 man squads INCLUDED that homegrown talent was described as serving 3 years whilst under 21 with an English OR WELSH club. At least they seem to be thinking of us.