The New Saints: Guinness World Records 'apologised' over record win mix-up
- Published
The New Saints edged out Falkirk to set up a SPFL Trust Trophy final with Airdrieonians
Welsh football's champions-elect The New Saints are set to miss out on the chance to break a new world record on Friday.
It comes after confusion over whether a penalty shoot-out victory can be classed as counting towards an incredible 27 wins in a row.
TNS already hold the record in men's domestic top-flight football for consecutive wins.
It was set in 2016 when they broke a 44-year-old best boasted by Ajax.
Officially recognised by Guinness World Records, it was initially thought they equalled the record with a 3-0 win over Newtown in Wales' Cymru Premier on Tuesday night.
It then emerged that only wins over 90 minutes and - crucially - not via penalties count towards the total.
With one of this season's 'record' run coming via spot-kicks against East Fife in the SPFL Trophy, it means the champagne is on ice - with the club now seven games shy of matching their record run.
TNS had thought they would have the chance to break the record in their Welsh top-flight fixture with Bala on Friday.
In a statement the club said: "We are naturally disappointed to learn that our 27-game winning streak apparently no longer qualifies as equalling the world record.
"On 6 February, Guinness World Records confirmed we had equalled the world record, and then on 7 February, we were told there has apparently been a "miscommunication" and that we have not now equalled the world record.
"As far as we are concerned, a win is a win, and so we have secured 27 wins back-to-back - a fabulous achievement by Craig [Harrison, manager] and the team, and one deserving of recognition.
"We are in communication with Guinness World Records, and we are hopeful of a resolution that is a fair recognition of the club's remarkable achievement on the pitch."
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) said it had tried to clarify the shootout situation in the official category of 'most consecutive association men's football victories (all competitions)' - and had confirmation the run was valid.
However, it said Guinness World Records had subsequently "apologised for a miscommunication" - leaving the FAW to break the bad news to supporters.
Guinness World Records has since told BBC Sport Wales it is considering opening a new category to include victories that come after extra-time or penalties.
That could still see the Oswestry-based club being crowned two-time world record breakers.
The club were told of the situation on Thursday. Harrison said on Tuesday night they had been initially wary of celebrating equalling the record because of the doubt over whether shootout wins would count.
If no new category is formed, the running total of wins would be at 20 with the East Fife game considered a draw.
The previous 27-game winning run surpassed the previous best set by the Ajax side of 1972 containing Dutch master Johan Cruyff.
The record anomaly should take little away from what has been an incredible campaign from the Park Hall side, who already have one trophy in the cabinet this term after their Welsh League Cup success last month.
The good news for Harrison's side is they still have plenty of time to pick up the eight extra wins required for an outright record as they go in search of an unprecedented quadruple.
There are nine games left of the Cymru Premier season where they will look set to claim a record-extending 16th title having only dropped four points all season.
On current form, they are on track to boast the highest total since the league took on a 32-game season 13 years ago - and the best points-per-game ratio since the league was formed in 1992.
TNS are also in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup, a trophy they also won last season.
And they are in the final of the SPFL Trophy where they will face Scottish Championship side Airdrieonians, having beaten Falkirk in last weekend's semi-final.
So while a new world record is not guaranteed for the Welsh side, maybe good things come to those who wait.
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