Pogster
20th April 2006, 08:22 AM
Source: Daily Telegraph
Tottenham are ready to launch a major challenge to Uefa's new rules which would deny them entry to next season's Champions League if they finished fourth in the Premiership and Arsenal won the European Cup.
Saturday's final north London derby at Highbury was already shaping up to be an explosive encounter but it has now taken on added significance thanks to the intriguing battle for fourth place.
Only four points separate Tottenham from Arsenal, who have a game in hand. On form, Arsene Wenger's side are favourites to overtake Spurs and ensure their place in next season's Champions League. But if Tottenham hold on and Arsenal win the European Cup final at the Stade de France on May 17, Spurs are preparing to put pressure on Uefa to guarantee their inclusion in next season's competition.
Uefa president Lennart Johansson forced through a change in the governing body's rules last June to give Champions League winners Liverpool the right to play in the competition this season even though they finished fifth in the Premiership behind Merseyside rivals Everton.
That move followed a major offensive from Liverpool, who argued the champions of Europe should not be denied the opportunity to defend their title.
Now, Spurs are claiming that the team who finish fourth should obtain entry regardless of whether the champions qualify.
The Daily Telegraph has learnt that the Premier League are backing Tottenham's case and last month wrote to Uefa on their behalf asking if they would consider changing their rules again.
That request was knocked back but Tottenham are not likely to let the matter rest.
Chairman Daniel Levy and club secretary John Alexander are exploring ways of challenging Uefa's rules. It is understood that they are even considering legal action as they believe the rules could be viewed as discriminatory under European legislation.
When Uefa changed their regulations for entry last summer, they stated that the three countries with four Champions League places - England, Italy and Spain - would have to lose one of those spots in the event that a team from one of those nations lifted the European Cup.
All other European countries, who have fewer than four spots, were told they would not lose a place if one of their clubs finished outside the qualifying positions but won the Champions League.
Uefa say that the spare spot made available by an English, Italian or Spanish winner has been earmarked for a minnow such as Andorra or Liechtenstein, whose league champions are not eligible for the competition.
Spurs say this is unfair. An insider said: "All Premier League teams start the season knowing that the top four get into the Champions League and those four teams should qualify regardless.
"Clubs have to make spending decisions based on getting into Europe and to have that taken away a week after the end of the domestic season because another English team win the Champions League is not right."
Despite the Premier League's support for Tottenham, Uefa are unlikely to cave in.
William Gaillard, their director of communications, said: "The decision was taken last year, so if we changed the decision again we would look like complete fools.
"The rules are clear. If Arsenal win the Champions League then, like all defending champions, they would be in, and if Tottenham finish fourth they would be out."
That is unlikely to deter Tottenham, however. Expect this North London squabble to be transferred to Uefa's headquarters in Geneva in the next few weeks
Tottenham are ready to launch a major challenge to Uefa's new rules which would deny them entry to next season's Champions League if they finished fourth in the Premiership and Arsenal won the European Cup.
Saturday's final north London derby at Highbury was already shaping up to be an explosive encounter but it has now taken on added significance thanks to the intriguing battle for fourth place.
Only four points separate Tottenham from Arsenal, who have a game in hand. On form, Arsene Wenger's side are favourites to overtake Spurs and ensure their place in next season's Champions League. But if Tottenham hold on and Arsenal win the European Cup final at the Stade de France on May 17, Spurs are preparing to put pressure on Uefa to guarantee their inclusion in next season's competition.
Uefa president Lennart Johansson forced through a change in the governing body's rules last June to give Champions League winners Liverpool the right to play in the competition this season even though they finished fifth in the Premiership behind Merseyside rivals Everton.
That move followed a major offensive from Liverpool, who argued the champions of Europe should not be denied the opportunity to defend their title.
Now, Spurs are claiming that the team who finish fourth should obtain entry regardless of whether the champions qualify.
The Daily Telegraph has learnt that the Premier League are backing Tottenham's case and last month wrote to Uefa on their behalf asking if they would consider changing their rules again.
That request was knocked back but Tottenham are not likely to let the matter rest.
Chairman Daniel Levy and club secretary John Alexander are exploring ways of challenging Uefa's rules. It is understood that they are even considering legal action as they believe the rules could be viewed as discriminatory under European legislation.
When Uefa changed their regulations for entry last summer, they stated that the three countries with four Champions League places - England, Italy and Spain - would have to lose one of those spots in the event that a team from one of those nations lifted the European Cup.
All other European countries, who have fewer than four spots, were told they would not lose a place if one of their clubs finished outside the qualifying positions but won the Champions League.
Uefa say that the spare spot made available by an English, Italian or Spanish winner has been earmarked for a minnow such as Andorra or Liechtenstein, whose league champions are not eligible for the competition.
Spurs say this is unfair. An insider said: "All Premier League teams start the season knowing that the top four get into the Champions League and those four teams should qualify regardless.
"Clubs have to make spending decisions based on getting into Europe and to have that taken away a week after the end of the domestic season because another English team win the Champions League is not right."
Despite the Premier League's support for Tottenham, Uefa are unlikely to cave in.
William Gaillard, their director of communications, said: "The decision was taken last year, so if we changed the decision again we would look like complete fools.
"The rules are clear. If Arsenal win the Champions League then, like all defending champions, they would be in, and if Tottenham finish fourth they would be out."
That is unlikely to deter Tottenham, however. Expect this North London squabble to be transferred to Uefa's headquarters in Geneva in the next few weeks