Defiant FA won't rule out return to Cardiff

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium has not been ruled out as a venue for next season's FA Cup semi-finals.

Despite a disappointing attendance for Arsenal's 3-0 win against Blackburn at the weekend and widespread criticism of the decision to hold this term's ties there, the game's governing body are keeping all their options open.

A Football Association spokesman said: "Everywhere is a possibility. No decision has been made."

Soho Square officials are committed to staging semi-finals at Wembley from 2006-07, but the stadium is in the process of being rebuilt and will not be ready in time for next season's games.

That will leave the FA with difficult decisions. Traditionally, club venues located in between the semi-finalists are used but the FA decided this term they wanted as many fans as possible at the prestigious games.

It backfired when only 52,770 were at Arsenal's game on Saturday.

The stadium lacked the sort of atmosphere which might have been expected at a smaller venue and players, officials and fans expressed disappointment at having to travel to Cardiff at the weekend.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, whose team beat Newcastle 4-1, claimed it placed a terrible cost "burden" on supporters and Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said he would have preferred their game to be played at Villa Park.

With six games of the Premiership season to play before the showdown with Arsenal on 21 May, Ferguson is convinced Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored twice yesterday, can substantially increase his tally of 14 for the campaign.