Comment: Of course they do. It is not inconceivable that one of them could find themselves in a similar position.
G14 want Liverpool to defend title
"We believe Uefa should look at ways of allowing this to happen"
Press buttociation Friday May 27, 2005
Pressure has increased on Uefa to include Liverpool in the Champions League next season after G14, the grouping of elite European clubs, called for the Reds to be allowed to defend their trophy.
G14 was the body that forced Uefa to expand the Champions League in 1998 by threatening to set up a breakaway competition and now they have thrown their weight behind Liverpool, one of their founder members.
A G14 spokesman said: "We support the desire to see Liverpool defend their trophy and the matter will be raised at our management board meeting next month.
"We believe Uefa should look at ways of allowing this to happen." The organisation is made up of 18 powerful clubs including Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bayern Munich - as well as Manchester United and Arsenal - and a formal approach will be made to Uefa after the G14 meeting in Amsterdam on June 9.
Meanwhile, the FA's chairman Geoff Thompson, who is also a Uefa vice-president, has continued lobbying for there to be five English clubs in the Champions League so Liverpool can defend their crown.
His main argument is that nearly all the 52 Uefa member countries would be given an extra place in the Champions League in similar circumstances - apart from England, Spain and Italy because they are already allowed four teams in the competition.
The FA believe that is an inconsistency in the regulations and that even if Uefa are not convinced on this occasion they should change the rules for the future.
if we dont get in the CLOn Fri, 27 May 2005 18:15:32 +0100, " + Padre Ted XVIII - V 2004 Man Utd 75 points, Liverpool 60 points 2005 Man Utd 77 points, Liverpool 58 points So you cut their...
"We are working extremely hard to try to secure the extra place for Liverpool," said Thompson.
"Our basic concern is to ensure that all 52 countries have the same opportunity. There is an additional place guaranteed should the champions come from 49 countries in Europe but not for the other three - England, Italy and Spain.
Setting PrecedentsGalliard talks about the precedent of Real Madrid coming 5th and the Spanish FA putting them in the...
"We are saying that there should be a level playing field and that every country should have the same opportunity."
Liverpool will have to wait three weeks before they will know one way or another - the issue will be decided by Uefa's 15-man executive committee at their meeting in Manchester on June 17.
There is some hope for Liverpool because Uefa president Lennart Johansson is understood to be broadly supportive, and his influence is extremely important, though not necessarily decisive.
Mario Lefkaritis, a Cypriot member of Uefa's executive committee, said he would approach the meeting with an open mind.
"It is very dangerous to pre-judge anything," he said "If the issue is raised in Manchester we have to listen to all sides and then make a decision."
