Next season's FA Cup final could be staged at a new venue if Saturday's showpiece between Arsenal and Liverpool atCardiff's Millennium Stadium is not a success, FA communications director Paul Newman confirmed today.
The English Football Association have signed a deal to hold the final in Cardiff for the next three years.
However, severe traffic problems at the League Cup final in February and problems with the playing surface could force the FA to rethink theirplans.
The FA's contract with the Millennium Stadium has a get-out clause, allowing them to serve nine months notice if the stadium does not meetexpectations.
Newman said that Twickenham, the home of English rugby, and other unnamed stadiums are on stand-by to stage next year's Cup final.
"We've had informal talks with a number of stadiums and Twickenham was one of them," he said.
"It would be remiss of us not to talk to other organisations. There were problems here for the League Cup final, with not just traffic chaos, butalso the pitch."
AFP