So now it's the third round we enter? All change again tomorrow anyone?
Reds all set after high power backing
Jun 9 2005
Liverpool's New Shirt SponsorReuters - Tuesday 14th June Liverpool FC's Chief Executive Rick Parry confirmed today that they are currently talking to a major organisation with a view to shirt sponsorship following Carlsberg's decision...
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
LIVERPOOL'S entry into next season's European Cup is set to be confirmed tomorrow after a powerful high ranking Turkish delegate threw his weight behind the holders.
It's been widely presumed the Turks were against the move to hand Rafa Benitez's side a place in this year's competition.
Fenerbahce were worried they would lose their automatic qualification spot if the European champs were successful.
However, that's not going to be the case. The increasingly likely compromise is the Reds will be entered into the third qualifying round alongside Manchester United and Everton.
The UEFA senior vice-president is Turkish delegate Senes Erjik and he is understood to be backing this proposal.
Erjik is a powerful figure within the organisation. He's second in command to Lennart Johannson and is tipped to take over the Presidency when the 75-year-old steps down.
Having fought to butture Fenerbahce of their place, Erjik is now believed to be lobbying support for Liverpool's right to defend their title.
The club who will miss out on Champions League football is expected to come from either San Marino or Andorra, one of whom will be withdrawn from the first qualifying round.
This will have a knock-on effect, creating a vacancy for Liverpool to enter as top seeds in the third qualifier in August.
The most contentious topic of discussion for the committee, which meets tomorrow, isn't Liverpool's right to defend their title. No European champion has ever been denied that privilege since the competition began and the majority of members support Liverpool's cause.
Of more concern is the repercussions of an unprecedented five clubs from one Football buttociation participating. Financially, this will impact on the share of the lucrative market pool.
As it stands, if all reach the group stage, five rather than four clubs share an estimated £52m. That means Liverpool, Everton, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal would get £10.4m each rather than £13m.
The further the clubs get, the greater their share of the market pool. If all five clubs then reached the knockout stage, or even the last eight, their share of earnings would inevitably be less than in previous years when four clubs divided the cash allocated to their buttociation.
UEFA also know they will have to clarify the rules for future tournaments in the event of a repeat of the current farce.
FinnanFINNAN ARRESTED OVER DRIVING rest Liverpool defender Steve Finnan has been arrested on suspicion of causing rest by dangerous driving, it was revealed on Tuesday. Finnan, who played...
The example of 2000 when Real Madrid were given a place ahead of Real Zaragoza has been widely interpreted as a missed opportunity.
However, in UEFA's defence, the Champions League format was different then as there were only four groups in the competition.
UEFA didn't want any of the groups to include two clubs from the same buttociation - a policy still in place. Since then, the format has changed and there are eight groups.
Technically, UEFA could amend the rules to allow a maximum of eight teams from one buttociation, and still ensure they didn't meet during the group stage.
In 2000, Real Madrid finished outside a qualifying position in La Liga but entered the Champions League in the group stage as number one seeds.
Liverpool believe the same should apply to them, but if a compromise is reached and they enter the final qualifying round, they're not likely to launch an appeal.
