Johansson backs Liverpool

ByReuters

Published 07/06/2005 at 08:46 GMT

UEFA president Lennart Johansson wants Liverpool to defend their Champions League trophy as European soccer's ruling body prepares to vote on the issue. Under current rules, Liverpool's fifth-placed finish in the Premier League means they have qualified o

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Johansson told BBC radio on Tuesday that UEFA's executive committee will arrange a telephone conference in the next few days, with members voting on whether Liverpool will be allowed in next season's competition after their win over AC Milan.

Asked if he was in favour of Liverpool being allowed in the Champions League, Johansson said: "Yes, I am...but I want people to know that they are free to have their own opinion when they are voting.

"I think that a champion should, as in all other sport, have the possibility to defend its title."

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Johansson said he favoured allowing the Merseysiders into the qualifying rounds. The 14-member committee, of which he is a member, would be given background on all the options available.

Executive committee members will be contacted on Tuesday to set a time and date for the teleconference.

"One decision is about what will happen in the future," Johansson said. "The main decision will be about Liverpool.

"I hope and I trust that it will be a decision which will be accepted by all parties because we have the ambition, on the one hand, to give Liverpool the opportunity to defend their title and, on the other hand, to see that no-one suffers from such a decision."

Though there are three qualifying rounds to the money-spinning Champions League, English clubs have so far only joined in the final round.

Johansson said Liverpool's title defence should start "from the very beginning, in my opinion". "They have to go through all the competition."

Liverpool were trailing Milan 3-0 at halftime in last month's final in Istanbul before scoring three times in six minutes and securing the club's fifth European Cup in a penalty shoot-out.

Champions League