Assembly calls for Welsh anthem before play-offfinal.

THE FOOTBALL League came under political pressure yesterday to play the Welsh national anthem ahead of Cardiff City's crucial play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan said yesterday both the UK and Welsh anthems should be sung or none at all.

Responding to a question from Cardiff fan and Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews, Mr Morgan said it was regrettable that international anthems were being sung before a playoff game.

``But if there are to be anthems,it should be both or neither.''

Plaid Cymru AM Owen John Thomas, the party's spokesman on Welsh language, protested that only ``God Save the Queen'' would be allowed before the Division Two decider with Queen's Park Rangers.

Mr Thomas, a South Wales Central AM, said a precedent was set when both anthems were played in November 1997 when Northampton played Swansea at Wembley.

He told Football League head of communications John Nagle that the biased refusal to allow Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau was an insult to Wales.

``Most people regard 'God Save the Queen' as the English national anthem and indeed one of its verses calls upon England to vanquish the Scots. It is seldom played in Wales,'' Mr Thomas said in a letter to the league.

The Football League said the play-off final is a domestic competition so no additional anthem would be played.