Liverpool FC Forum

[zarababe]

UEFA SET TO MAKE EARLY DECISION
Paul Eaton 30 May 2005 

  UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson says a decision over whether or not Liverpool will be allowed to defend their Champions League title next season could be made before a scheduled meeting in Manchester on June 17. 
UEFA's executive committee is due to meet next month at which it was assumed they would discuss Liverpool's case, but Olsson has now revealed a decision is likely to be made much earlier.
 
The Reds have received widespread backing in their bid to play Champions League football next season following their thrilling success over AC Milan in last week's final.
 
UEFA president Lennart Johansson along with major footballing names such as Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff have added their names to the weight of opinion which now appears to be stacked overwhelmingly in Liverpool's favour.
 
Olsson said: "We can make a decision before the meeting, because it is important for the clubs playing that they know the conditions.
 
"We are doing an analysis now and it is complex. There will be an open discussion. It is a welcome debate because there are different views in different countries.
 
"It cannot be a discussion only about Liverpool. The entire rule has to be discussed."

[spacemonkey]

yes i agree with Stu on this one as well, UEFA should have set a rule out for this years ago

There are some clear rules about this situation actually. It basically says if the winner of the CL Cup is not in Top 4 of their league, they won't be able to compete in the next years CL. No more than 4 clubs per country can compete in CL... Now these are some pretty damn clear rules. However, I personally think its unfair for LFC, not to be able to defend the cup title. But it is also unfair for Everton to be kicked out, which I would love it to be happened. Also it would be unfair for other clubs like Fenerbahce SK, the 2nd consecutive year champions of Turkish Super League, to be kicked out of CL...

cheers..

[Chelsea forever.]

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

'It's too late for Liverpool' - UEFA chief


A UEFA executive committee member believes it is too late to change the rules to accommodate holders Liverpool into next season's Champions League.
Pressure has increased on UEFA in the past week to include the Reds in next season's competition following their stunning penalty shoot-out triumph over AC Milan.


The elite European clubs group, the G14, have added their voice to the clamour while Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson, who is also a UEFA vice-president, has continued lobbying for there to be five English clubs in the Champions League so the Reds can defend their crown.

Liverpool will have to wait for another three weeks before the issue is resolved by UEFA's 15-man executive committee at their meeting in Manchester on June 17.

UEFA president Lennart Johansson is understood to be broadly supportive, and his influence is extremely important though not necessarily decisive.

However, Dr Joseph Mifsud, who has been on the committee since 1994, is a dissenting voice and is unequivocal in his belief the current regulations should be adhered to, which would result in the exclusion of the newly-crowned champions.

Mifsud, who is also the president of the Malta FA, told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'I believe we should follow the rules.

'If the rules permit it it is ok, if the rules do not permit it, no.

'I believe that while the English FA can do something in this regard, I believe as the rules stand at present at UEFA we cannot do anything - unless of course the regulations are changed.

'But I don't agree regulations can be changed midway through the season.

'As far as I can see it is too late.' 

[Chelsea forever.]

I think they should give the 4 spots to -

Chelsea - Cauz we are the Champions of England and the mighty blues
Liverpool - Cauz you are the Champions of Europe and the true Mighty Reds
Everton - cauz they beat the odds and finished 4th

And have a 2 leg playoff between Manure and them goonz just before the League starts so we have some broken bones, tired legs and a shitty team in the grp stages of the CL to be easily knocked out.

-

Or they could just kick arsenal out since they pretty much never make it past the knockout rounds.

[Roger Red Hat]

There is an easy solution people. Chelsea are set to be punished for the Cole tapping up issue, so, ban Chelsea from taking part in next seasons Euro.cup and give the place to LFC.

Job sorted, I thank you.

[Chelsea forever.]

You wish!

Seriously though you throughlly deserve to defend your cup and i pray the FA sorts it out and lets all 5 clubs play as simply they cant exclude any of the top 4 and they def. cant exclude the champs.

[neilE]

Perhaps we should play Everton in the qualifying round !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not really but at least it would show them who really belongs in the competition...........

[LiverpoolMadman]

FA is a disgrace ... The whole board should resign. When Liverpool won the CL , they make England proud ... Even a Queen and the PM were happy after the game because in the final Liverpool represent England, not only Liverpool . Who knows with this win England will host some major events. But is how FA reply to Liverpool ? Let the Champion defend the title , drop Everton to UEFA CUP.

Yes I agree that Everton win 4th spot but they played less games than Liverpool and their last two games were disgrace.

[LiverpoolMadman]

Perhaps we should play Everton in the qualifying round !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agrees ... just like in playoff. Winner takes all

[Anfield rapper]

I am not as confident as most of the people on here about us getting to the CL next year. I mean all UEFA have to do is say "we don't think its fair that England has more than 4 teams like everyone else, so its up to the FA to decide between Liverpool and Everton".

Of course the FA has already (bottled it unlike the spanish FA) decided between us and said they are in favour of the fourth team.

Also if they do decide to change the rules and allow us in we won't be able to play a qualifying match because that happens about 48 hours after the European Super Cup match between us and CSKA Moscow sowe'll have to be put staight into a group. All this seems like a bit more effort than UEFA will be prepared to make.It seems as though most of the people in UEFA who will decide are in favour of changing the rules but not for next season as some team is going to end up p**d off.

[joependo]

Why can't we have a play-off final see who gets into the qaulifiers that would be fair and sqaure.The Champions league should be called the european cup because if Real Madrid winv it they can't say they beat the championns,therefore we(Liverpool)are still the champions.

[lakes10]

Uefa chief dampens Reds Euro hope 

Gerrard (left) and Benitez returned to a hero's welcome
Uefa committee member Dr Joseph Mifsud said rules cannot be changed to allow holders Liverpool to enter next season's Champions League.
Mifsud, president of the Malta FA, has been a committee member since 1994.

"While the English FA can do something in this regard, I believe as the rules stand at present at Uefa we cannot do anything," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"Unless of course the regulations are changed. But I don't agree they can be changed midway through the season."

Pressure has increased on Uefa in the past week to include the Reds in next season's competition following their dramatic penalty shoot-out triumph over AC Milan.

Liverpool finished fifth in the Premiership, missing out on an automatic qualification for next season's Champions League - and Uefa rules do not allow automatic entry for the competition winners.

English Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson, who is also a Uefa vice-president, has lobbied for five English clubs in next season's tournament.

Liverpool will have to wait another three weeks before the issue is resolved by Uefa's 15-man executive committee at its meeting in Manchester on 17 June.

[Anfield rapper]

I'd be all for a play-off with Everton maybe that would stop they're "we're the best team in liverpool" and whip the smile off that t**t's face on Radio 1 in the morning. He does my head in the little .

[Ciggy]

I'd be all for a play-off with Everton maybe that would stop they're "we're the best team in liverpool" and whip the smile off that t**t's face on Radio 1 in the morning. He does my head in the little .

hate them bitters mate, had a nough of them to last me a life time, peoples club my @rse.     there cr@p aswell, jealous

[KennyisGod....still]

What I don't understand is ppl sayin England will have 5 clubs in the competition.... after Neverton play their qualifier there'd only be 4 left so where's the problem? Unless they get drawn against some Maltese runners up or somethin daft! And come on, even their run of luck can't last that long surely......