Liverpool FC Forum

[Ciggy]

Champions League: The scenario that will send Liverpool and Everton to court
Antony Melvin


"Can Liverpool deny Everton a place in next years Champions’ League by winning the tournament this year?"

The somewhat unlikely circumstance of Liverpool winning their fifth European Cup in Turkey in a few weeks time has been exercising the minds of a number of pedants this week. The fact that each of the three nations with the highest UEFA coefficient is able to submit four entrants into the Champions League is lost on no-one. But how these four teams are made up is a little cloudy.

The crux of the matter is: Can Liverpool deny Everton a place in next years Champions’ League by winning the tournament this year?

According to the Guardian last week the winners of the Champions' League are allowed to defend their title along with the same countries top three teams:

"This rare event occurred in 2000 when Real Zaragoza, who finished fourth in the Spanish Primera Division, were only awarded a Uefa Cup place, as fifth-placed Real Madrid won the Champions League that season."

But today the BBC website and radio five live have been suggesting that the FA would have to make a request to UEFA for Liverpool to compete instead of Everton; if Everton finish fourth and Liverpool are crowned Champions of Europe.

Natural justice would suggest that a team should be allowed to defend its title. This is what is expected based on the examples of competitions like the World Cup. But FIFA's recent decision to remove this seemingly inalienable right from future World Cup tournaments (ostensibly to allow an extra entrant from a weaker federation because the Europe/South America federations invariably provide the winners) does weaken this case.

If this scenario comes to pass then avowed Liverpool fan Brian Barwick will have to make a decision. And the new FA supremo does seem somewhat allergic to making unpopular decisions.

But, given the financial implications, Barwick will then have to defend that decision in court because neither Everton nor Liverpool will accept the loss of millions of pounds of revenue lightly. Local point scoring is one thing, two teams that need cash for new stadiums and players is another.

A court case would be in no-ones interest to contest, so hopefully some kind of financial compromise would be possible. But how do you compromise on the loss of prestige and player pulling power of competing in the Champions’ League? If it comes down to it what compromise would suit everyone?

As a final point of interest, hands up who thinks Barwick will deny the team he supports a Champions’ League spot?

No, really?

[Ciggy]

See its up to the F.A.

Liverpool could dent Everton's Champions League dreams for next season if they win this year's competition.
Liverpool eased into the quarter-finals on Wednesday and manager Rafael Benitez believes his side could go all the way.

But they would not automatically qualify for next year's Champions League. The Football Association could, however, ask Uefa to include Liverpool.

The fourth-placed team in the Premier League, which is currently Everton, would then drop into the Uefa Cup.

The quarter-final draw for the Champions League will take place on Friday 18 March.

Any team can be drawn against another and the two legs will be played on 5/6 and 12/13 April.

[taff]

Its up to the F.A. to decide who gets the CL place, if we win it and everton get 4th.

surely if we win it we qualify as european champions 

Nope UEFA will leave it up to the F.A. to decide us finishing 5th 6th what ever? or will they put everton in if they finish 4th.
I can see the F.A. picking us no matter what, but imagine the bitters if this really happens and they get 4th. They will spontanious combust with anger

are you sure, lynds? this is start to worry me
you got any supporting source?

Leon did a thread on this with all the rules quite recently

I cant see the FA not putting us forward if that happens.

Can you imagine Evertons reaction

[Leonmc0708]

This has been covered time and time again, do people actually look at other topics before posting ?

JESUS !!