UPDATE 1-Soccer-Cardiff's UEFA Cup hopes get FA boost

(Adding byline, details)

By Mike Collett

LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) - Cardiff City's hopes of playing in European competition next season have improved following a meeting of an influential Football Association sub-committee.

Under current FA rules, the Welsh club would not qualify for the UEFA Cup even if they beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup final next month as Welsh clubs can only qualify through their own competitions.

However a source close to the matter told Reuters on Wednesday that the FA's professional game board voted to approve their entry into European competition at a meeting on Tuesday, with their recommendation expected to be approved by the FA's executive board next week.

Michel Platini, the president of European soccer's governing body UEFA has expressed his wish that Cardiff participate in the competition and UEFA are ready to discuss the possibility of offering them a wildcard.

Even if Portsmouth beat Cardiff in the final, Cardiff could still qualify for Europe if Portsmouth finish high enough in the Premier League and qualify for the UEFA Cup through their league position.

Cardiff are the only Welsh club to have appeared in the FA Cup final, losing to Sheffield United in 1925 and winning in 1927 when they beat Arsenal.

They regularly appeared in the old European Cup Winners Cup competition either as Welsh Cup winners or runners-up.

(Editing by Alan Baldwin)