UEFA have suspended them from competing in the Champions League for a year

(link goes to a Portuguese page)

Silvio immediately assigns three full ministers to the task of seeing how Milan can get Porto's place (or CSKA Sofia's, he isn't picky).

Funnily enough, that's exactly the first thing that I thought...

If it somehow happens, the security staff in Nyon are going to find themselves dealing with one angry bear . . .

The potentially angry bear has calmed himself considerably though some legal research that indicates that Silvio would really have to pull out all the stops to steal this one (not that him at least trying to do so is in anyway beyond the realm of possibility).

Interested parties can take a look at the Champions League rules here.

Article 1.01 expressly says that no national federation may enter more than four clubs. Strike One for Milan.

Article 1.07 expressly says that any club that fails to meet the admission criteria (including as a result of being found guilty of corruption (like Porto) or not having obtained a domestic license (like CSKA Sofia)) “shall be replaced by the next best-placed club in the top domestic league championship of the same national association, provided it fulfills the admission criteria.”

Strikes Two and Three for the Rossoneri.

I hope they enjoy the UEFA Cup; it's a great competition.

yes, and if there are no Portuguese teams in it, you have free rein to bribe the shit out of the remainder.

OK: Janik, it started out as a funny/windup thread where us old firmers (and believe me, I know about both old and firm) get to laugh at ourselves.

Having said that, someone posted about Boavista getting double humped? Because they dont have the clout that Porto have.

On what basis would Milan think they would have any claim whatsoever to take Porto's place? There is no rationale for even imagining any premise from which to launch such a bid.

That's really funny, PT.

Since when has Berlusconi ever required a basis for anything he has ever done?

And they have that shiny gold badge from FIFA on their kits and the blue one from UEFA with the European Cup and the number 6.

They're massive, just ask them.

[quot]Article 1.01 expressly says that no national federation may enter more than four clubs. Strike One for Milan.[/quote]

As Silvio saw Liverpool bypass that one in 2005, I'm sure he thought that there was nothing to lose.

That provision wasn't there in 2005; it was expressly added as a result of that debacle.

.


UEFA's decision to bar Porto from next season's European competitions has been annulled on appeal. Back to square one (the Disciplinary Committee).


.

And now the Gazzetta is quoting Gaillard as saying that Porto will definitely play in this season's Champions League, as it will take too long for the Disciplinary Committee to re-hear the case.

I always knew there was an awful rotten smell off that lot.

Melbourne Arab wrote:

QUOTE:
What's really remarkable is the idea of Manchester United being "moral winners" of anything.

Haha I was racing to make that exact point.