Platini pledges to get Cardiff into Europe if they win FA Cup at Wembley

UEFA president Michel Platini has promised to intervene if Cardiff win the FA Cup but are denied a place in next season's UEFA Cup because they are based in Wales.

Cardiff reached the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough on Sunday and have been drawn against Barnsley in the last four.

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But if they win the April 6 clash then beat either West Brom or Portsmouth in the final the Football Association insist they will not be put forward as one of England's representatives for the UEFA Cup because they come under the jurisdiction of the FA of Wales.

The Welsh governing body reserve their places for winners of their domestic competitions, leaving Cardiff potentially in limbo.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale hinted after the draw the club would challenge the FA's decision - and he would have an ally in Platini.

The former France midfielder told BBC Radio Five Live: "It's not normal that they participate in one competition and if they win they are out. That is not good.

Meanwhile, Wales' sports minister is to ask the FA to switch the Cup semi-finals from Wembley to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

The final had a temporary home in Cardiff while the new Wembley Stadium was being built but returned to London last year.

In the week Cardiff City progressed to the semi-finals, heritage minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas told Welsh Assembly Members he would write to the competition's organisers about bringing top domestic football back to the Welsh capital.

"I am sure that the fans throughout the UK would welcome the opportunity to return to Cardiff," he said.

"I am certainly happy to write to the FA and to suggest to them that semi-finals in future should be held in Cardiff and the Millennium Stadium."