www射-国产免费一级-欧美福利-亚洲成人福利-成人一区在线观看-亚州成人

  Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

UEFA may allow Liverpool to defend title
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-27 08:31

English soccer officials are pressing European soccer's governing body to allow Liverpool to defend its Champions League title next season.


Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, left, and manager Rafael Benitez step from the plane at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Liverpool, England, Thursday, May 26, 2005, carrying the Champions League trophy after his team beat AC Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday May 25. [AP]

Liverpool beat AC Milan 3-2 on penalty kicks Wednesday night in Istanbul, Turkey, after trailing 3-0 at halftime, for its fifth victory in Europe's most prestigious club competition — and first in 21 years.

Under UEFA's rules, Liverpool doesn't qualify for the tournament next season. The Reds finished fifth in England's Premier League, and only the top four teams qualify — Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool's bitter crosstown rival, Everton.

"Liverpool are the European champions and we believe as European champions they should get the chance to play in the Champions League next season," England Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick said Thursday. "This is a difficult situation, but we had an extraordinary match, it's thrown up an extraordinary issue and it needs an extraordinary solution."

UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said he doesn't expect the qualifying rules to be changed.

"We cannot change the rules in the middle of the season," he said in a BBC radio interview. "We cannot take a team from another country out of the direct qualification because we would like to put in a fifth English team."

However, UEFA president Lennart Johansson said earlier this month that Liverpool could get a wild-card berth if it won the Champions League. UEFA's executive committee meets on June 17-18 in Manchester, England, to discuss the matter.

"The door is always open," Johansson said. "We are there to serve football and not just dictate. It is for the executive committee to decide, and anything can be granted if they decide to go to the member associations and ask for a change in the regulations."

Johansson said it would be "unfair" to exclude Everton.

In 2002, the Spanish federation left Real Zaragoza out of the Champions League so that Real Madrid could defend its title.

The English FA has already ruled that Everton will keep its European spot.

"For sporting reasons and for the wider interests of European football, Liverpool should get a special exemption," FA executive director David Davies said. "We know there is a body of support on UEFA's executive committee for our view."

Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry called for quick action.

"UEFA and the FA need to get their act together and get it sorted relatively quickly," he said. "I think it would look a little odd if we weren't giving the opportunity to defend.

"I think it's UEFA's decision. At the end of the day, it's their competition. I think it is unfair to put the onus on the FA."

Everton officials said they backed Liverpool's right to defend the title but had no intention of giving up their own spot.

"The (English) FA has already announced its decision on the matter," Everton said in a statement. "However, we have said all along that we believe the champions of what is European football's elite tournament should be allowed to defend their trophy."

British sports minister Richard Caborn said it would be a "travesty" if UEFA kept Liverpool out.

"They should rethink this issue, and I think they will have to," Caborn said. "Nothing is set in stone and it seems only right that the winners should have automatic re-entry rather than having to qualify through the domestic system. It is only common sense."



Liverpool's Triumph
Spurs rally past Suns 111-108
Wade Show
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

Battles won on drugs, but war rages on

 

   
 

China wants Games torch on Mt.Qomolangma

 

   
 

Shanghai targeting at property bubbles

 

   
 

FM: Talks only way to East China Sea row

 

   
 

Focus on security, airlines instructed

 

   
 

Nestle baby formula pulled off the shelves

 

   
  UEFA may allow Liverpool to defend title
   
  Real Madrid keen to develop brand in China but denies buying stake in club
   
  Miami top Pistons 92-86 to knot series
   
  AC Milan unashamed by Liverpool loss
   
  Shenzhen pip Suwon to winner's post
   
  Peng Shuai loses to Davenport
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 真正免费一级毛片在线播放 | 日本a级特黄三级三级三级 日本a一级片 | 免费在线观看一区 | 碰碰碰精品视频在线观看 | 草草影院ccyycom | 男人桶女人暴爽的视频 | 国产精品色午夜视频免费看 | 一区二区不卡久久精品 | 久久精品视频7 | 国产精品性视频免费播放 | 国产真实乱子伦精品视手机观看 | 欧美一级毛片一级 | 男人天堂男人天堂 | 99久久精品免费看国产一区二区 | 经典日韩 | 一级毛片在线播放 | 天堂va欧美ⅴa亚洲va一国产 | 视频在线色 | 国产精品久久自在自线观看 | 免费国产午夜高清在线视频 | 亚洲天堂在线观看视频 | 国产成人免费午夜在线观看 | 毛片免费在线观看网址 | 欧美一级xxx | 国产一级一片免费播放i | 337p粉嫩日本亚洲大胆艺术照 | 自拍网在线 | 久热香蕉精品视频在线播放 | 91国语对白 | 亚洲欧美视频 | 亚洲欧美在线看 | 精品久久久久久中文字幕 | 草久在线观看视频 | 男女视频免费 | 国产一区二区三区四区波多野结衣 | 久久免费公开视频 | 18视频免费网站 | 欧美大片一级毛片 | 91情侣高清精品国产 | 国内精品国语自产拍在线观看55 | 国产精品成人观看视频网站 |