Tier 5 club expelled from Welsh Cup – but will reinstated team be able to continue?

North Wales Coast East League Division One club Bow FC have been expelled from the 2022-23 Welsh Cup for fielding an ineligible player.

The newly-formed club, who play in Prestatyn, beat Betws-y-Coed on penalties in the first qualifying round on July 30, but were found to have broken the competition rules.

The FA of Wales announced its decision to remove Bow from the national cup yesterday.

A statement said: “Following a Football Association of Wales investigation into the alleged breach of Welsh Cup Rule 20, the National Cup Board have decided to withdraw Bow FC from the competition for the 2022/23 season.

“FAW Welsh Cup Rule 20(a) states:

“(a) If the National Cup Board have any doubt as to the qualifications of any player taking part in this Competition, they shall have power to call upon such player, or the Club to which he belongs, or for which he played, to prove that he is qualified according to the Rules, and failing satisfactory proof the National Cup Board shall remove the Club from the Competition, and may impose such other penalty on the Club or player as they may think fit.

“Having reviewed the evidence available to them, the Board decided that Bow FC were in breach of the Rule and that as per FAW Welsh Cup Rule 20(b), Betws-Y-Coed have been re-instated into the competition and will now be scheduled to participate in Qualifying Round 2 of the JD Welsh Cup in the 2022-23 season.”

Betws-y-Coed have problems of their own to deal with.

On August 29, the North Wales Coast East League reported the club is struggling to fulfill fixtures due to a shortage of players: “It is unfortunate but Betws y Coed are experiencing player problems which as a result their capabilities to field a team on any match day at present is becoming impossible.

“A strong possibility is that the club could fold, therefore in order to avoid this the league have granted a two-week fixture break commencing this Saturday in order that the persons involved in running the club may be able to recruit players and save the club from fading away.”

An update on the village club’s situation is awaited.