Pompey face Euro heartache

Cup win may not guarantee Europa League place

Last updated: 9th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Pompey face Euro heartache

Pompey: Failed to apply for UEFA licence

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Portsmouth could be denied a place in the Europa League next season after it emerged the South Coast outfit have not applied for a Uefa club licence.

Another sparkling FA Cup run has lifted spirits at Fratton Park and a semi-final victory over either Fulham or Tottenham would, in normal circumstances, guarantee a European place if the winners qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

However, all the paperwork for a Uefa licence needs to be submitted to enter European competitions and it is understood that Pompey, who went into administration on 26th February, have not lodged an application.

The club have been unable to provide proof of their accounts because of their current financial plight - their place in the FA Cup has, however, been assured by the FA.

Threat

Pompey, winners of the prestigious cup competition under Harry Redknapp in 2008, booked their place in the last four with victory over Birmingham on Saturday.

FA rules state that any club who enters administration will have their ongoing participation in the FA Cup reassessed.

But Portsmouth's administrator Andrew Andronikou has moved quickly to reassure supporters that their place in the competition is not under threat.

He said: The FA are fully supportive of us and they want us to succeed and get to the other end.

"There is no chance of us being kicked out of the FA Cup."