Uefa Defiant Over Liverpool Entry

[Senna 0]

Uefa defiant over Liverpool entry

"We have won the trophy. It is common sense that the winner should defend the title"

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez

Uefa has insisted it has no plans to change its rules to allow Liverpool to defend their Champions League crown.

The Reds finished fifth in the Premiership - a place outside automatic qualification for the Champions League.

"I fully sympathise with the club and I would love to have them in there - but we have rules," Uefa spokesman William Gaillard told BBC Radio Five Live.

"We can't change them in the middle of the season. The FA has said Everton are the fourth English club to qualify."

Gaillard insisted that the precedent set in the 2000-01 season, when Real Madrid defended the trophy despite finishing fifth because the Spanish football federation decided to hand them Real Zaragoza's place, would make no difference.

"It is called the Champions League so the champions should be able to defend it"

Steven Gerrard

But Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insisted his team should be allowed back into the Champions League next season after the breathtaking win over AC Milan in Istanbul.

"We have won the trophy. It is common sense that the winner should defend the title," said Benitez.

"It's quite unbelievable to even consider that a side who will play in the European Super Cup as well as the World Club Championship next season should not be allowed back into the Champions League."

Meanwhile, Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has also made a plea to Uefa: "Look at the support, the worldwide audience and the game.

"I think we have to be given a shot. We are worthy champions and I think that's what the world will say."

Liverpool get to keep the European Cup trophy after winning it for the fifth time by beating AC Milan on penalties.

But their participation in the competition has been in doubt since the Football Association decided that the top four in the Premiership would take up England's places next season.

Parry added: "At least we get to keep this one so they can't take it back off us if nothing else.

"You wouldn't have given a lot for our chances at half-time but the boys were absolutely magnificent.

"It's good to win it for the supporters because they were magnificent."

And Reds skipper Steven Gerrard added: "It is called the Champions League so the champions should be able to defend it."

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "Yes, I think they should be allowed to defend the title."

[Senna 0]

What a game of football! It was tense, exciting and high quality drama. I

[nojvnof1 0]

I share those sentiments exactly. That seven minute spell by Liverpool was mesmerising, as brilliant as AC Milan's first half. Both were untouchable in those certain periods of the game. Bad luck for Harry Kewell, he will miss the Confederations Cup and will have surgery, hopefully he'll be back in time for Australia's vital World Cup qualifiers in November. Gerrard was vital. Benitez pulled off a masterstroke by bringing on Hamann for Finnan who was doing nothing as was impeding Gerrard. Dudek showed character, that save at the end of extra time from Shevchenko's two shots were brilliant. His performance in the shootout was both great and funny at the same time, his movement's were 'out there', to say the least.

I feel they should be allowed to defend their title. Why there is no reservation for the reigning champion staggers me. I read on soccernet.com that the Welsh champions, can't recall their name, are willing to have a play-off with Liverpool for their place in the first Qualifying stage of the tournament. Not the way they should get their shot, but it may be their only chance, and it's a great gesture by the Welsh team. It'll bring in some big $$ if nothing else.

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Yes Dudek

[nojvnof1 0]

especially seeing as how they knocked us out!!

[Senna 0]

especially seeing as how they knocked us out!!

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That was exactly my point!

[kiko01 0]

Awesone match!!!!!! I couldn

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What do you know of Jose Reina kiko01? Is he a good player, will he be a good choice for Liverpool? I don

[raikkonen_rulez 0]

i don't agree that liverpool should be allowed to defend their title

the top four earned their spot, liverpool didn't

i admit that the match was good, they performed really well to come back from 3-0

but rules are rules

there're lots of teams from england that can win the eufa cup other than liverpool

ps: i remember when ian thorpe was disqualified from competing in athens 2004, some people here said that it was his own fault, and craig stevens should be allowed to compete.

[kiko01 0]

What do you know of Jose Reina kiko01?  Is he a good player, will he be a good choice for Liverpool?  I don

[kiko01 0]

i don't agree that liverpool should be allowed to defend their title

the top four earned their spot, liverpool didn't

i admit that the match was good, they performed really well to come back from 3-0

but rules are rules

there're lots of teams from england that can win the eufa cup other than liverpool

ps: i remember when ian thorpe was disqualified from competing in athens 2004, some people here said that it was his own fault, and craig stevens should be allowed to compete.

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Everton deserves palaying the champion league but UEFA must give Liverpool a wild card.

[raikkonen_rulez 0]

if they give them a wildcard

then there'll be an odd number of teams

that's hard to organise

[CC 0]

Despite being a United fan I was pleased that Liverpool won the European Cup and i think it would be foolish and just plain wrong to deny them the chance of defending it again, however I think the main thought behind getting back into the European Cup is more to do with Money and less about the prestige of defending the cup, if UEFA were to offer Liverpool the same money package as you would get from entering the European Cup in compensation for not allowing them in, I think they will take it and just make do with the UEFA cup.

But really over the course of the season Liverpool have only themselves to blame for not being certain of a place in the European Cup, they realised they were not going well in the league so they decided (well Rafa Decided) to take the cup competition instead, in which he won and lost one and spectacularly went out at the first hurdle one the other one. The road to a European Cup place is a marathon, not a sprint and Liverpool thought the latter would be good enough and sadly they have been proved wrong.

[Senna 0]

Everton deserves palaying the champion league but UEFA must give Liverpool a wild card.

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I agree.

[Senna 0]

Hi Senna!!!!

I