 From 1967 , a place in the Inter @-@ Cities Fairs Cup was awarded to the Football League Cup winners , but that season 's winners , Queens Park Rangers , could not take up their place because UEFA did not at that time allow third @-@ tier teams to compete in the Fairs Cup . When the same situation arose two years later with Swindon Town , a two @-@ legged match against that year 's Coppa Italia winners , A.S. Roma , was organised by way of compensation . Following the popularity of that event , dubbed the Anglo @-@ Italian League Cup , and as a way to generate income to pay players ' wages during the extended close season caused by the 1970 FIFA World Cup , the first Anglo @-@ Italian Cup was inaugurated in 1970 . 
