[Spurs Girl Emma]

AC Milan have been given the go-ahead to take part in this season's
Champions League despite being found guilty in the probe into match-fixing in Serie A.
Milan were initially banned from the competition, but were re-instated on appeal and Uefa's emergency panel ratified that decision on Wednesday.

Uefa said it "had no choice but to admit" Milan, who play Crvena Zvezda or Cork to qualify for the group stage.

The governing body was worried about a legal challenge from AC Milan.

Uefa said the Italian club took advantage of the fact that the Swiss-based body lacks legal grounds to refuse the club's admission - and said it would change its regulations as a result.

The emergency panel said it was "deeply concerned that AC Milan has created the impression of being involved in the improper influencing of the regular course of matches in the Italian football championship."

The panel added: "The club has obviously not yet properly perceived the troubles it is in and the damage it already caused to European football."

Uefa said it would carefully monitor Milan's behaviour and added that it would "not hesitate to intervene severely" if the club attempted to improperly influence the outcome of a match.

Milan were initially deducted 15 points and thrown out of the competition by the Italian Football Association (FIGC).

But on appeal they had the deficit cut to eight points and were included in last Friday's Champions League draw.


This is a complete joke, they've been found guilty of match fixing, yet are allowed to play in the Champions League.

[Joe]

I agree with you, the Italians [and UEFA] for that matter have buckled to the 'big guns' again. They cheated to get points in the league, who knows where they would have finished if they did not have these advantages.

Wonder what would have happened if it was a smaller team that they could have made an example of?

[Spurs Girl Emma]

And with Buffon supposedly going to them, they'll probably go on and win the damn trophy.

[squid]

feel bad for the Italian team that would have got in to the competition in thier place. They have seen that Milan have been found guilty for cheating in order to finish above them, and now the italian fa and Uefa are lieing down to let them get away with it.

[Jedi Knight]

just proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is an elite among European football clubs. one rule for one set of clubs and another for the rest. Who really runs Uefa? how can anyone take them seriously?

[Joe]

It will be interesting to hear the reaction that the Italians get when they play in the CL this season. I think that there will be a few 'boos' from home fans when the Italians are in town.

However, without Shevvy Milan may not be the same team as previous seasons in Europe. Still quality but I reckon they have fallen behind Chelsea, Barcelona and possibly Real Madrid

[goldenHuddlestone]

Yes definitley this will have shaken them up big time

[King of Kings]

It all just proves to me that money is more important than a fair game of football to these people