Blatter on Cardiff and the English FA

A visitor to Wales the president of football world governing body FIFA Sepp Blatter had something to say about Cardiff City joining the English FA. Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale is planning to talk with the FAW this week about the possibility of playing Welsh international fixtures at the Cardiff City Stadium and the switch to the English FA might me on the agenda. A number of managers have criticised the situation were the FAW deal with punishment and not the English FA.

Blatter was in Wales to open the FAW new training facilities at the Vale of Vale of Glamorgan and told the South Wales Echo the Bluebirds should be cautious about the idea.
“This is a British problem. The four British associations have a special agreement with Fifa,” said Blatter.
“If a team plays in a league of another federation that is already foreseen in our regulations.
“We have cases. There is a New Zealand team playing in Australia and there are two Singapore teams playing in Malaysia as well as a Canadian side, soon to be two, playing in the MLS.
“Personally I think if you are the winner of such a competition you should be allowed to participate in the international competition.
“But if a club wants to move from one association to the other that would need the permission of the Fifa executive committee.
“That would be the case if Cardiff City wants to play under the English FA.
“But for me the four British associations must try to solve whatever problems they have amongst themselves."

The Premier League have say on a number of occasions that in that case Cardiff would take up the European spot if they gain it, the only stubbing block could be the reaction of the ‘English’ team missing out to a ‘Welsh’. It could be a minefield.