Liverpool FC Forum

by **JBG** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:58 pm

D-Day approaches for Reds
Thursday June 09 2005

UEFA are expected to give Liverpool a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League on Friday.

The 14 men who make up UEFA's executive committee will vote on the matter during a telehone conference and although there is a block of members who believe the rules should not be changed, president Lennart Johansson is likely to succeed in persuading the majority to agree that the champions should be allowed to defend their crown.

The title-holders are usually guaranteed an automatic place in the group stage but that scenario is highly unlikely and, indeed, Liverpool themselves would be content with a place in the final qualifying round.

The Reds' failure to qualify through their Barclays Premiership finish has allowed Turkish champions Fenerbahce to take up the automatic group spot.

Fenerbahce staying in the group stages also brings UEFA's senior vice-president Senes Erzik, who is from Turkey, on board the campaign to allow Liverpool to become a fifth English side in Europe's elite club competition.

There have been suggestions a minnow from Andorra or San Marino would have to be bumped out of the earlier rounds but clubs from these countries only take part in the UEFA Cup anyway.

UEFA sources say under the most likely scenario the Slovakian champions - their league is not yet over - would play an extra qualifying round and be compensated by the country being given an extra UEFA Cup place.

A source close to UEFA said: "The executive committee is fairly evenly split but the fact the president has said he favours Liverpool's inclusion should prove decisive.

"The situation with Fenerbahce is very important. If they get an automatic place in the group phase that means a guaranteed £5.5million for them, so Senes Erzik will only support a qualifying round place for Liverpool."

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D-day approaches for reds - Thursday june 09 2005 365.com

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