Soccer-Cup heroes Cardiff face tougher test in court

By Mike Collett

LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - Cardiff City, who survived a potential knockout blow in the FA Cup on Sunday, face another far more serious one in the High Court on Wednesday.

The Welsh club, who beat Premier League Middlesbrough 2-0 to reach the semi-finals for the first time since winning the FA Cup in 1927, are being sued by financial backers Langston over the repayment of an outstanding loan of around 24 million pounds ($48.45 million).

If the court ruling goes against the Championship (second division) side, Cardiff could be ordered to repay the loan immediately.

Cardiff say they will have to consider going into administration should that happen, prompting an automatic 10-point deduction by the Football League that would send them plummeting from 14th place in the table into the relegation zone.

City, the only Welsh club to win the FA Cup, will argue they do not have to repay the bulk of their loan to Langston until 2016.

LATE HOUR

Although Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale told Sky Sports News last week that administration had to be considered, he added: "I'm hoping that, even at this late hour, we end up not going to court.