久久亚洲国产成人影院-久久亚洲国产的中文-久久亚洲国产高清-久久亚洲国产精品-亚洲图片偷拍自拍-亚洲图色视频

  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: 成年人黄色免费网站 | 久草视频福利 | 久久久999国产精品 久久久99精品免费观看 | 99久久久免费精品免费 | 日韩欧美一区二区三区不卡在线 | 国产精品亚洲欧美 | 在线综合+亚洲+欧美中文字幕 | 午夜a一级毛片一.成 | 91精品国产免费久久国语蜜臀 | 国产精品亚洲精品爽爽 | 亚州精品一区二区三区 | 美国免费高清一级毛片 | 国产成人亚洲精品2020 | 久草国产在线播放 | 91av观看 | 国内自拍第1页 | 九九99久麻豆精品视传媒 | 无遮挡一级毛片私人影院 | 好吊妞998视频免费观看在线 | 日韩一级不卡 | 视频三区精品中文字幕 | 色老头久久网 | 欧美一区二区三区在线观看 | 在线观看国产亚洲 | 欧美一级二级三级视频 | 看亚洲a级一级毛片 | 美女视频黄视大全视频免费网址 | 最新国产三级在线观看不卡 | 国产在线观看网址你懂得 | 欧美做a一级视频免费观看 欧美做爱毛片 | 欧美1| 成人亚洲精品 | 一本久久综合 | 欧美一级特黄乱妇高清视频 | 国产在线观看91精品一区 | 亚洲精品国产精品一区二区 | 在线成人 | 欧美三级黄色 | 欧美亚洲日本国产综合网 | 国产精品久久久久久麻豆一区 | 高清波多野结衣一区二区三区 |