Premier League front-runners Swansea today admitted they are planning an appeal should they banned from playing in the Champions League next season.
A spokesman for UEFA confirmed it would be a problem for Swansea to represent England in the Champions League as they are actually from Wales. There were similar concerns last year when Cardiff reached the League Cup Final, before losing on penalties to Liverpool.
The taffs could have took a place in the Europa League by winning the final, or if Liverpool had qualified for the Champions League by finishing in the top four. Welsh clubs already play in the Champions League qualifiers, through the League of Wales.
Swansea currently sit in second place in the Premier League with a 100% record of six points from two games, having hammered West Ham 3-0 and QPR 5-0. Only Chelsea, who have played three games, are above the Swans.
An insider at the Welsh club told our reporter today "We're quietly confident that we can win this battle. On current form we deserve our place in Europe. The fact that English and Welsh players competed together in one shirt as Team GB, for the Olympics must be in our favour - even though Gareth Bale pulled out to play in a Tottenham friendly, and Craig Bellamy took David Beckhams place."