THE FARCE GOES ON

The Football Association says it still expects the 2007 FA Cup final to take place at the new Wembley stadium despite an announcement from construction firm Multiplex that suggests the venue will not be ready until June next year.

"We have not had any discussions with the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff," said an FA spokesman, adding: "We could still even play an England fixture in February."

Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) said yesterday that they were still confident that the stadium would open by the end of the year but Multiplex's statement to the Australian stock exchange suggests otherwise.

"Unless and until WNSL hold and successfully complete a series of test events, and obtain the required approvals, Multiplex will be prevented from achieving practical completion," the statement read. "The analysis has been reviewed with an expert in the operation of major stadia and indicates that it is unlikely that the stadium will be able to hold a test event for 90,000 spectators before June 2007.

"Multiplex has advised WNSL of its entitlement to extensions of time to October 2007 and of its intention to pursue legal proceedings in that and other respects, including WNSL's acts and omissions which are preventing Multiplex's ability to achieve practical completion."