Mark Hughes furious

Wales have refused to rule out taking their demand for Russia to be thrown out of Euro 2004 to independent arbitration.

With Mark Hughes blasting the Russians’ case at their second appeal to UEFA over Egor Titov’s positive drugs test as “an absolute joke,” the only way forward is to risk another £100,000 in legal costs and appeal to the European court of Sports Arbitration.

Hughes and FA of Wales secretary general David Collins went to Nyon to present the Welsh appeal, and were frustrated and angry when it was rejected for a second time. Titov tested positive after the first leg 0-0 draw in Moscow, and played in Russia’s 1-0 second leg win in Cardiff. Wales argued that Titov was ineligible for that match and the result should be declared a 3-0 win to Wales. Consequently, Wales could have replaced Russia in this summer’s 16-team finals.