joseph mifsud,un représentant de l'uefa et chef de la federation de malte de football considère que c'est à la FA de regler le problème.
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Posted to the web on: 01 June 2005
UEFA rule-change seems unlikely
Sapa-AFP
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ACCORDING to a UEFA executive committee member it seems unlikely that the rules will be changed to allow Liverpool to defend their title in next season’s Champions League.
Pressure has increased on UEFA to include the Reds in next season’s competition following their stunning penalty shoot-out triumph over AC Milan.
The elite European clubs group, the G14, have added their voice to the clamour while Football Association 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 the Reds can defend their crown.
Liverpool will have to wait another three weeks before the issue is resolved by UEFA’s 15-man executive committee at their meeting in Manchester on June 17.
UEFA president Lennart Johansson is supportive but he does not have the final say.
And Joseph Mifsud, who has been on the committee since 1994, says it is up to the English to resolve the problem.
The English FA has already stated Premier League rules do not allow them to strip fourth-placed Everton of their Champions League spot for fifth-placed Liverpool.
“I believe we should follow the rules,” Mifsud, who is also the president of the Malta FA, told BBC Radio.
“If the rules permit it it is ok, if the rules do not permit it, no. I believe that while the English FA can do something in this regard, I believe as the rules stand at present at UEFA we cannot do anything — unless of course the regulations are changed."
“But I don’t agree regulations can be changed midway through the season. As far as I can see it is too late.”
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