Wrexham, the Welsh soccer club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has encountered a hurdle in its quest for European competition opportunities. The English Football Association (FA) has rejected a proposal from the Football Association of Wales (FAW) that sought to allow Welsh clubs in the English league system, including Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport, to participate in the Welsh League Cup. This could have potentially opened a pathway to the UEFA Conference League for these teams.
The English FA communicated its decision on a Friday, stating, "It was noted that it is open to the Welsh clubs to choose whether or not to participate in the English or Welsh system based on their own assessment of the relative merits of participation in each system, but if they choose to participate in the English system they must do so on the same basis as the English clubs which participate in that system."
Under the ownership of Reynolds and McElhenney, Wrexham has moved from the fifth to the third tier of English soccer since 2021. The club, in the English league system since 1921, is currently ranked third in League One after drawing 1-1 with Birmingham. As it stands, Wrexham can qualify for European competitions only through success in the FA Cup, the English League Cup, or with a top finish in the Premier League. The FAW expressed disappointment at the rejection, emphasizing that the proposal "would have benefited all levels of football throughout Wales" with funding of $3.7 million annually. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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