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Liverpool have been awarded a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League first qualifying round.
The European champions will start their qualifying campaign on 12/13 July – with return legs to be played on 19/20 July.
Liverpool had initially been told that they would not be able to defend their trophy, won in a penalty shoot-out against Milan, because they finished outside of the top four in The Premiership.
However, after extensive negotiations, Uefa’s executive committee have now concurred on Liverpool’s participation.
Rafa Benitez’s side now face an exhausting close-season as they will have to play six games to secure a place in the group stages of Europe’s premier competition.
Uefa’s director of communications, William Gaillard, has spoken exclusively to Sky Sports News and has explained his organisation’s decision and the implications for future seasons.
”I think we are looking for a quieter summer at this stage!” Gaillard told Sky Sports News.
”We have basically amended the rule to make sure there is no ambiguity left.
”As you can see from our statement that says title holders will always have the right to defend the title and therefore qualify automatically – whilst at the same time the number of clubs per national association will remain stable.
”As we say also, Liverpool will be included in the English market pool share with the status of the lowest placed English club.
”There will still be some financial burden on the other four clubs, these calculations will take place later.
”It was decided reasonably quickly and it was a consensus position after the different aspects were examined and taken into account.”
Manchester City had been hoping Liverpool’s participation in the Champions League would free up a Uefa Cup spot but Gaillard has now poured cold water on this suggestion.
”Man City don’t get a place. As you can see from the list we transferred Liverpool from the Uefa Cup but kept the number of clubs in European competitions stable. So that means Bolton and Middlesbrough will represent England in the Uefa Cup,” he concluded.
”The executive committee decided this was the best solution possible.”
good news i reckon, personal opinion however.. throw chelsea out for this player tapping up… hit them hard… no fine will do the crime justice.
but well played liverpool, they deserve to defend it.. and good luck to them… hope they make it to the later stages again
I must admit, I was surprised that those fu-kers at UEFA allowed an `ENGLISH` winning club back into the Champions Cup.
They seem to hate everything that is `ENGLISH FOOTBALL`.
C`mon LIVERPOOL do it again, prove them bastar ds wrong :D
And I do not support them as my local team
Champions League Announcement 2005/06 Season.
Only 4 Teams from England will qualify for the 2005/06 Champions League, those teams are:
Chelsea
Arsenal
Man Utd
EvertonHowever there will be a special dispensation for Liverpool, the current holders of the cup, see below for details.
Liverpool will be allowed into the competition next Season, they can by-pass the qualifying round, and go straight into the group section.
Only the top two from each group will be allowed to progress to the next stages. However, see below.
If Liverpool finish 3rd in their respective group they will be allowed to continue to the next stages, the knock-out rounds, because they are the holders of the cup.
All teams who enter the knock-out stages will be eliminated if they are beaten over the two legs, however, see below.
If Liverpool get beat over the 2 games in the knock-out stages, they will be allowed to continue in the competition because they are the current champions, and have won the cup an impressive five times.
This rule has been changed to make the Champions League a more fair and just competition, this rule will be valid throughout the knock-out stages, and will not, NOT be effective for the final, however, see below….
If Liverpool (aka “the Redshite”) get into next seasons final they may or may not be allowed to win/lose, even if they get beat by the other team, but in the event of a tie, or if they score more goals than their opponents, they will be allowed to lift the famous trophy, no extra time or penalties will be allowed, in the unfortunate event of the other team winning, we will again sit and adjudicate on whether or not this will be allowed, as they are the holders, our committee should grant them the cup, as we have granted them a place in the 2005/06 competition.
It would have been hard to call it the Champions league if the Champions weren’t allowed to defend their title.
….and before anyone says it’s the champions of their respective leagues… I didn’t realise Many Utd won anything this season. :roll:
As for the rather full Post-Season adgenda, I would rather see Liverpool in there rather than on tour, down in the Far East again
All it needs is for a sour evertonian to start moaning and the ‘we hate liverpool’ brigade will be complete.
You toffees and manc scum just cannot accept that liverpool have the right under FIFA rules, to defend their trophy.
when i say their trophy i dont mean FIFA’s, i mean liverpools. 5 times won and now lives permanently at anfield.I still cannot stop laughing at the ‘wont beat juve’ club, the ‘chelsea will hammer you’ club and the ‘milan will make it embarrasing for you’ clubs.
We beat Juventus, Chelsea and AC Milan. we done it the hard way. But most importantly,,,, we WON it.
Fifa’s rule book clearly states that any team, at whatever level of football, must be granted the opportunity to defend their crown should they win a competition.
Jesus said ‘come forth’ but rafa said ‘ sod that, we want the champions league’
CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE.
just accept it.
they totally deserve to defend their title after the way they won the Cup, probably the best gane I’ve ever seen…and ive watched a lot of games :D its certainly the best comeback i’ve seen, so I say good luck to them, I hope they do well again next season.
Now that Gerrard has stopped arsing about with his agent and signed a contract along with the ever-amazing Carragher, I think this could be the beginning of many great seasons ahead for Liverpool. good luck lads 8)
anything to give the chelsea and man utd scum a little friendly competition :wink: 8)
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