Robinson unhappy with UEFA rule

TOTTENHAM’S England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has criticised the UEFA rule that could wreck their Champions League dreams.

Europe’s governing body will not allow Spurs a place in the next season’s competition should the north London club finish fourth in the Premiership and Arsenal win the Champions League by beating Barcelona in Paris next month.

UEFA introduced the rule limiting entries from one country to four before the start of the season after allowing Liverpool, who failed to qualify via the Premier League, to defend the Champions League title they won last season.

Spurs have to win their last two games against Bolton at White Hart Lane tomorrow and West Ham at Upton Park a week later to ensure they finish fourth and then hope Barcelona will sink the Gunners.

Robinson said: “It will be massively disappointing if we don’t make it. It will be a massive blow to the team and the fans. Last year it was a difficult situation for Liverpool. If you win a competition there should be rules where you are allowed back in but there should be some consideration given to the team who finishes fourth after 38 games of the season.

“They made the rules very clear but it still doesn’t have to mean it is very fair. I was willing Villarreal to score and win against Arsenal in the semi-final because although you like to see English teams do well in Europe, not when it can hamper our season.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Jermaine Jenas is out of the clash with Bolton with a shin injury.

Coach Martin Jol is also without Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids through suspension.

Danny Murphy stands by for a place in midfield with Hossam Ghaly also added to Jol’s squad. Egyptian striker Mido is doubtful with a knee injury.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce insists El-Hadji Diouf is going nowhere this summer. The Senegal striker has been forced to undergo punishing extra sessions in a bid to gain extra fitness after returning from the African Nations Cup requiring a double hernia operation.

Allardyce has now decided Diouf will not play again this season, to ensure he is back to full fitness when the new campaign gets underway in August. And Allardyce claims any talk of a transfer is wide of the mark.

Veteran Spaniard Ivan Campo could be about to enter his last week at Bolton. Campo has so far rejected Bolton’s efforts to extend his contract, which is due to expire in the summer, and it seems almost certain he will return to Spain, having expressed a desire to play for home-town club Real Sociedad.

Allardyce welcomes back Joey O’Brien and Radhi Jaidi. O’Brien came through a midweek reserve-team appearance following a recent thigh problem.