Liverpool gets to defend their CL title

[Volum]

From www.uefa.com

Liverpool allowed to defend title
Friday, 10 June 2005

The UEFA Champions League holders Liverpool FC will compete in next season's UEFA Champions League first qualifying round.

Right to defend
The UEFA Executive Committee decided to amend the regulations for the future editions of the Champions League, so that the holders will have the right to defend their title and therefore qualify automatically. At the same time, the number of clubs allowed per national association will remain stable based on coefficient ranking.

Exceptional decision
Exceptionally, for the upcoming season, the Executive Committee today decided to allow the current Champions League holders to defend their title. The UEFA Executive Committee also decided that:

- Liverpool would enter the competition in the first qualifying round, to be played on 12/13 and 19/20 July, with the draw taking place on 24 June.
- There will be no country protection for Liverpool.
- Liverpool will be included in the English market pool share with the status of lowest-placed English club.

And the world was once again a better place There must be some resonable brains in the UEFA after all

All in all i think its fair that we have to start all the way at the start with the first qualifing round, shouldnt be to hard gettin trough atleast til the 3rd, but then again u never know with Liverpool

 

[Scuffer]

Sensible decision UEFA - I'm not sure why this wasn't included in the first place! Did any other club get kicked out to makw way for Liverpool?

 

[Hitro]

I find this ridiculous. Why did that have that stupid rule then?

And I think a Spanish team was once kicked out by Real Madrid when they won the CL but didn't qualify. It's only that the English FA seems to have different rules about this and now gets an extra team for it...

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

And I think a Spanish team was once kicked out by Real Madrid when they won the CL but didn't qualify. It's only that the English FA seems to have different rules about this and now gets an extra team for it...

English FA played a very dangerous game but held their nerve. The best league in the world now has 5 team in the Champions League.

I support Liverpool and yet I still think that the Champions League should only be played by the top team from each country. UEFA wanted expansion and problems like this are the result

 

[WickedSmurf]

I find this ridiculous. Why did that have that stupid rule then?

I completely concur and wonder the same thing.

And I think a Spanish team was once kicked out by Real Madrid when they won the CL but didn't qualify.

Real Sociedad it was.

 

[Volum]

With No country protection, that means we can meet Everton or Man Utd

 

[Dell19]

I completely concur and wonder the same thing.



Real Sociedad it was.

It was Zaragoza.

I agree as well that whilst there is an arguement for their inclusion it makes a mockery of the Spanish decision and all rules in general and I don't like it how they get a share of the money so the 4 teams that normally qualified all lose out. If they had to make the decision then Liverpool should have not been given a slice except the money that they earn through prize money and attendences.

 

[Scuffer]

It's only that the English FA seems to have different rules about this and now gets an extra team for it...

This decision has nothing to do with the English FA. It quite properly has stuck to its rules. If UEFA have caved in to pressure from the sponsers (which is what it comes down to), blame them. But the English FA did not make this decision

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

This decision has nothing to do with the English FA. It quite properly has stuck to its rules. If UEFA have caved in to pressure from the sponsers (which is what it comes down to), blame them. But the English FA did not make this decision

True, but it did lobby hard to get the decision it, and we, wanted

 

[MrPresident]

This decision makes me think six things.

1. Liverpool has worldwide goodwill due to their once mighty status means everyone knows their name but their recent years means their a lovable underdog.

2. The English football market is the most important in Europe generating the most revenue for UEFA.

3. The FA realise point number 2 and played hardball.

4. UEFA realise point number 2 and caved in like jellyfish.

5. If Liverpool win this year's Champions League it will be one of the greatest stories in sport's history.

6. Whoever drew up the rules in the first place is an idiot but not as big an idiot as the guy responsible for the rule requiring players to leave the pitch if their injured.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

6. Whoever drew up the rules in the first place is an idiot but not as big an idiot as the guy responsible for the rule requiring players to leave the pitch if their injured.

I agree, UEFA should have seen this coming when they started to allow teams finishing 4th in their league to compete.

I also hate the rule requiring players to leave the pitch but then I think people caught diving should be executed on the spot. :suicide:

It infuriates me.

 

[Scuffer]

True, but it did lobby hard to get the decision it, and we, wanted

Of course, as would be expected. The G14 group of greedy swine did as well. But I doubt they had to try very hard - UEFA are a bumptious load of revenue-obsessed stuffed shirts, and having Liverpool in the cup means more money and no G14 making waves. It went from absolutely impossible to perfectly doable in a few weeks. They could easily have dug their heels in if they wanted.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

They could easily have dug their heels in if they wanted.

But why should they? It would devalue the competition if the champions didn't defend what is theirs. Especially since Liverpool now keep the real Trophy anyway.

 

[Dell19]

You could argue that it devalues the cup by having Liverpool in it since they did not qualify.

 

[MrPresident]

You could argue that it devalues the cup by having Liverpool in it since they did not qualify.

You could argue that the Champions League has been devalued since they let in non-Champions. I hardly think letting in the reigning European Champions devalues it any further. Either the competition is run for money and the top four teams in the major leagues are let in, or the competition is about actual achievement and only the champions are let in. If it's the former then there is no argument not to let Liverpool in.

 

[Scuffer]

But why should they? It would devalue the competition if the champions didn't defend what is theirs. Especially since Liverpool now keep the real Trophy anyway.

Exactly my point. The English FA, G14 group, Liverpool FC etc did not have to try very hard to persuade UEFA, because it was in UEFA's interest to have them back.
That's what I saying to Hitro's

It's only that the English FA seems to have different rules about this and now gets an extra team for it...

Incidently, just Liverpool fans on the radio moaning they are in the worst qualifying group

 

[classical_hero]

This should have been decided back with the Real Madrid and Real Zaragoza. Then this mess would not have been around this time. Wake up UEFA. Make sure you are doing your job next time and stp fiasco's like this from happening again. the English FA were well with in their rights to make that decision they made, because it is tough to make it fourth in the EPL. Everton are rightly being rewarded for their great play.

 

[privatehudson]

You know what, having read some points on other sites, there's just no pleasing some Liverpool fans is there? Having changed the rules for them to play in the CL they then complain because they claim it's "not enough" because they're placed in the 1st round. They should be damn glad UEFA changed their rulings in the first place, they are after all still getting a share of the money also, which if I had the choice wouldn't give them. Liverpool based their argument on the principal that the Champions should be allowed to defend their title. I'd say that's fair enough, but that doesn't justify penalising the other 4 clubs for it.

English FA played a very dangerous game but held their nerve

The English FA made their choice before the 4th spot was decided. It's hardly their fault that Liverpool failed to perform in the league is it?

 

[Hitro]

This decision has nothing to do with the English FA. It quite properly has stuck to its rules. If UEFA have caved in to pressure from the sponsers (which is what it comes down to), blame them. But the English FA did not make this decision

I don't blame the English FA, not at all, it's all about UEFA. They made the rule so they have to stick with it.

Their rule was that there won't be an extra spot for the champions. Now it was hardly a secret that some leagues, including the English Premiership, did not reserve a spot for the champion on the expense of a team that's played for it the whole year (a very good decision as opposed to the Spanish, btw...).

So it was clear that this could happen. Still they kept the rule. And as soon as it might come into effect for the first time they scrapped it. That does indeed show, as you said very well, that it's all about money.

And that is what p*sses me off, not that Liverpool gets into it, the champion surely belongs into the Champions League. But I've always hated that G14 money making machine, the old Champions' Cup was fine.
And they've also made the UEFA Cup a CL for losers, completely devaluing it.

 

[Hitro]

By the way, who could they play against in the qualifying rounds? If we happen to meet the champion in our round my annoyance with UEFA will multiply even more...