If the Welsh appeal had been successful we would have been unable to select either Craig Bellamy or Gary Speed for the opening Premiership fixture at Leeds United three days earlier.
Under normal circumstances Wales would be able to have their players report for international duty four days before a competitive game, but the fixture was moved from its original date in October because of political unrest in Belgrade. The only free date for the rearranged match was designated as a friendly international week, meaning Mark Hughes will only have 48 hours to prepare his team for a game which could secure their participation in Portugal next summer.
While it is great news for us that the key pair will be able to play at Elland Road it is difficult not to have some sympathy for Hughes as he attempts to lead Wales to a major finals for the first time in over 40 years.
Surely it shouldn’t have been too much to expect for Sky to show some consideration to the Welsh position and have allowed the Leeds game to go ahead on its original date.