Wales verdict due today

Wales will learn today whether their appeal to replace Russia at Euro 2004 has been successful, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said last night.

Wales will learn today whether their appeal to replace Russia at Euro 2004 has been successful, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said last night.

Wales believe they should play in the tournament because Yegor Titov, one of Russia's players, tested positive for a banned stimulant after the first leg of the Russia v Wales play-off last November.

Titov was an unused substitute in that game, a 0-0 draw, but played for 59 minutes in the second leg four days later, which Russia won 1-0.

Uefa, European football's governing body, rejected an appeal by Wales, who then took their case to CAS.

An announcement was expected yesterday but Uefa claimed that CAS had no jurisdiction to make a decision. Therefore the CAS first had to consider the case and then rule whether its own ruling is legitimate.