Poll: Should AC Milan even be in the Champions League final?
A year ago this month AC Milan was a one of a group of Serie A clubs that were accused of match-fixing.
While Milan was not the largest violator (Juventus were demoted to Serie B), they were indeed found guilty of match-fixing. Their punishment was a 15-point deduction for the 2006/2007 season and they could not participate in the 2006/2007 Champions League. After an appeal, AC Milan lost only 8 points in Serie A and was allowed to play in the Champions League.
So let’s get this straight: AC Milan was found guilty of match-fixing, one of the worst violations in all of sport, and is now playing in the final of the most important club tournament in the world.
Milan have a very good chance of beating Liverpool and that would make the whole thing that much more hard to swallow. How can soccer’s governing bodies (FIFA, UEFA, FIGC) allow a team that was convicted of match-fixing, play for a major trophy?
What do you think? Should AC have been allowed to play in this year’s Champions League?
9 comments
I think we should just declare Liverpool the winner.
The whole thing is maddening. It just goes to show the impotence of the governing bodies, especially when it concerns a G14 club.
Political? I think so.
In what way J. Michael?
Maybe Milan did try to influence games after finding out about Juve’s machinations,but they didn’t do a very good job of it (if you watched last season’s Juve-Milan match). I suppose they were wrong to counter Juve’s “tactics” in the same way but I do understand that they didn’t want to welch on them (Juve),and instead chose to fight fire with fire.
If they choose to fight fire with fire, they deserve just as much punishement as the original violator. That is how it works on the pitch, why is it different off?
I don’t know all the details about their appeal, what did they say to get them back in the Champions league? Was it something like “please please please, we promise we won’t do it again”?
AC Milan should not be playing tomorrow.
Milan should play. They have a great squad and some hard working guys. They deserve it, just like any of the teams they had to knock out. Past is past, lets leave it there.
I think this article sucks ass…
1. Coz I don’t believe UEFA to be that lenient on cheaters, and if there WAS any solid evidence against Milan in the Caliopoli, it wasnt brought forward and to the notice of UEFA, and FIFA that they would prosecute the club. There was no way UEFA could have stopped us from playing European football, otherwise they would be losing a huge chunk of good football in Juventus and Milan. Finalists of 2003 I guess, nut nut.
2. More over, they gave them the hardest test of all, by pulling them into the qualifiers before preparation dates only a month after WC finished against a determined side in Red Star, and Milan came through 3-1 on aggregate. Good enough, they passed. Liverpool were the one struggling against a nimble Macabi Haifa even at a neutral stadium.
3. OK, even if Milan had cheated it ways in the Serie A, it didn’t do so in Europe. Plus, there wasn’t enough evidence to give Milan the similar punishment to that of Juve, or Fio as stated in para 1. so there was no rationale behind calling them cheaters and barring them from playing the CL.
4. Considering Inter’s high rate of achievement over the past few ‘decades’ it was clear that had Milan not be given that -8 points, Milan were the clear favorites to win the Serie A, so in the fallout of Juve leaving the Serie A, it was only sensible for the FIGC to inflict some counter damage to the chances of Milan winning it.
5. Considering the performances of Milan compared to that of Liverpool, I would certainly say Milan are the ones that should be in the Final and not Liverpool. Winning games on penalties if their niche, and they take pride in it, only to whine about it if it goes against their wishes… pffft. Chelsea Liverpool games were the worst showcase of UEFA I had ever seen. Games with Milan involved has always proved to be a good show…!
So, I’d rather stop posting crap like that if I were you and bury this discussion, as its getting too old. Getting to the final is good enough for alot of Milan Loyalists. Winning it would be the iceing. Live happy
Adios.
let milan play-I say this as a lifelong liverpool supporter. They deserve their chance after qualifying (I recall another team having to do that not so long ago, and they played a lot more games to do so that Milan) but we don’t hear that mentioned do we?
If they beat us on merit, as we did to them, good luck to them-They certainly lead in the war? of words denigrating one of the greatest clubs in the world. If liverpool had been playing in Seria A, they’d be champions every year!!!!
Still, like the esteemed chelski mananager Moanrino is it? it helps to get your moan in first so you can trot out all the reasons why you lost.
Let’s see what your made of on the pitch, we know what you’re like off it, yo
u have a slightly yellow tinge about you!!!!
Tyler — sorry for the delayed response.
ryc: I meant politics — as in compromise and backroom shmoozing. As Phil mentioned, imagine the Euros that would be lost if Milan couldn’t play in the Champions League. Juve, apparently not so much.
btw You have generated a lot of feedback from your post and that ain’t a bad thing.
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