Let 'em in

Liverpool won one of the most remarkable Champions League finals of all time - but because they only finished fifth in the Premier League this season, they won't get the chance to defend their title unless UEFA changes the rules:

The chairman of Liverpool, David Moores, said last night it would be "absolutely diabolical" if his club were not allowed by Uefa to compete in next season's Champions' League after their sensational comeback to win the club's fifth European Cup against Milan in Istanbul on Wednesday night.

The club's officials have still not been contacted by Uefa over whether their case could be discussed at next month's meeting of the governing body's executive committee although there was growing confidence at Anfield yesterday that their inclusion will be difficult to resist. "They can't leave us out now," said the club's chief executive, Rick Parry.

After a heroic comeback from three goals down at half-time to draw 3-3 and win the match 3-2 on penalties, Uefa will find themselves under further pressure if the most dramatic winners of the European Cup are not allowed to defend their title. The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, said that it would be "unbelievable" if his side were not able to play in the competition next year despite the Football Association ruling that the top four Premiership sides should qualify.

Everton won the final qualifying slot by coming fourth in the Premier League this past season, and there would be rioting in the streets of they were yanked from the Champions League in favor of their crosstown rivals. Everton should keep its place, but surely it makes sense to let the winners of the Champions League get the opportunity to take part again, right?

Would I be so strident about this if a non-English team (say, Arsenal) were in Liverpool's position? Well, no. But if we can't be rabidly nationalistic about soccer (in this case, for our ancestral home, since my country has no major league and ranks 83rd in the FIFA rankings), what can we be rabidly nationalistic about?

Posted by damian at May 27, 2005 07:23 AM | TrackBack