I know its a little early to start talking about the UEFA Champions League next season but todays news has tempted me into starting this thread nice and early.

For those who haven't heard it yet. Portuguese champions FC Porto have been banned from the 2008/09 Champions League after being found guilty of bribing referee's in 2003/04. The Portuguese Football Association had already deducted them 6 points from their 2007/08 league campaign but it wasn't enough to prevent Porto from winning the title.

UEFA though have decided that despite Porto winning the 2007/08 Portuguese Title that they will not be allowed to enter the following seasons champions league due to these bribing charges.

so porto can't play the CL but Milan two years ago was allowed to play even though they found guilty together with several other teams . Both (Porto-Milan) had enough points to qualify even after taking points away but Milan was still allowed to play. Porto just don't have the right chairman to scare off the Uefa bosses...

Well they do generally say that the big clubs get all the decisions when it comes to the governing bodies, looks like Porto isnt a big enough club. But I do agree, if AC Milan were allowed in then Porto should be.

I have read that Porto will be appealing so this decision is not set in stone. And if the appeals made by the 4 italian clubs a few years ago are anything to go by they might well get back in.

The original sanctions handed out to the 4 italian clubs found guilty of match fixing were...

Juventus - Stripped of the 2004/05 and 2005/06 titles, Bared from the Champions League, Relegated to Serie B, Begin the season on -30.
Fiorentina - Relegated to Serie B, Begin the season on -12, Bared from Champions League
Lazio - Relegated to Serie B, Begin the season on -7, Bared from UEFA Cup
AC Milan - Begin the Serie A season on -15, Bared from the Champions League

Those were the original sanctions placed on the teams, this is what actually happened after all their appealing...

Juventus - Stripped of the 04/05 and 05/06 titles, bared from the champions league, relegated to Serie B, begin the season on -9 (after two appeals)
Fiorentina - Begin the Serie A season on -15, Bared from the Champions League
Lazio - Begin the Serie A season on -3, Bared from UEFA Cup
AC Milan - Begin Serie A on -8, Made to enter the 3rd Qualification stage of the Champions League

Scott

BTW, who was the Porto manager in 03/04, he's so shy and quiet that I just can't remember.

I know what you mean chungwit, they must of been a pretty 'special' person

Scott

Being a FC Porto supporter, I can not accept other decision but the appeal to change UEFA decision, as far as we understand this is nothing but a political decision, and a setting of an future example and what makes even worse to take!
The fact is that we are still very small and insignificant in the uEFA world.

The word is that Porto have a very good chance to win the appeal, and to play Champions League football.
A team that wins the championship with a 20 point lead, is worthy of respect.
It is only good news for the other teams, because instead of pORTO they would play against a mediocre team that finished the league sooooooooooooooo far behind!!!

Ronaldo 'wants to play at Madrid'

Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United has taken a new twist after the winger was reported as saying he would like to play for Real Madrid.
Real have been tracking Ronaldo, 23, despite being warned off by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I'd like to play for Real Madrid but only if it's true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them," he told respected Brazilian website Terra.

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Portugal Coach Luiz Felipe Scoalri has been named the new manager of Chelsea FC. He will begin his role on July 1st after failing to agree a new contract with the Portuguese National side.



Scott

Wonder how much he's been pushing Ronaldo to join Real Madrid.

UEFA Champions League 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg - Tuesday 15th & Wednesday 16th July 2008

Dinimo Tblisi 3 vs 1 NSI Runavik
Aktobe 1 vs 0 FC Sheriff
Drogheda United 2 vs 1 Levadia Tallinn
Linfield 0 vs 2 Dinamo Zagreb
Inter Baki 0 vs 0 Rabotnicki Kometal
Tampere United 2 vs 1 Buducnost Podgorica
BATE 2 vs 0 Valur Reykjavik
Anorthosis Famagusta 1 vs 0 Pyunik
F91 Dudeange 0 vs 1 Domzale
Llanelli 1 vs 0 Ventspils
Dinamo Tirana 0 vs 2 Modrica
Valletta 0 vs 2 Artmedia Petrzalka
Santa Coloma 1 vs 4 FBK Kuanas
Murata 0 vs 5 IFK Goteberg

UEFA Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round 1st Leg - Tuesday 30th & Wednesday 31st July 2008

Drogheda United 1 vs 2 Dynamo Kiev
Inter Baku 1 vs 1 Partizan Belgrade
SK Brann 1 vs 0 FK Ventspils
AaB 5 vs 0 Modrica
Anderlecht 1 vs 2 BATE
Anorthosis Famagusta 3 vs 0 Rapid Vienna
Beitar Jerusalem 2 vs 1 Wisla Krakow
Domzale 0 vs 3 Dinamo Zagreb
FC Sheriff 0 vs 1 Sparta Prague
Fenerbache 2 vs 0 MTK Budapest
IFK Goteborg 1 vs 1 Basle
Panathaniakos 3 vs 0 Dinamo Tblisi
Rangers 0 vs 0 FBK Kaunas
Tampere United 1 vs 3 Artmedia Petrzalka