Portsmouth face the prospect of chasing FA Cup glory without the prize of European football after it emerged they have not applied for a UEFA club licence. Avram Grant’s men face Fulham or Tottenham in the semi-finals of the competition and reaching the final would, in normal circumstances, guarantee a Europa League place if the winners qualify for the 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 are in administration and are fighting a winding-up order from the Revenue Commissioners, have not lodged an application. They can submit a retrospective application, however their current financial status means it is unlikely that a licence would be granted by European football’s governing body. Despite the oversight, Portsmouth’s administrator Andrew Andronikou has said he has been reassured by the Football Association there is no chance of the club being kicked out of the FA Cup. FA rules say that any club who goes into administration will have their ongoing participation in the competition reassessed.
24 May 2012
