Soccer: Haifa thrown out so Reds face Finns

Liverpool will face Finnish outfit FC Haka in the third qualifying round of the Champions League after UEFA decided to throw Maccabi Haifa out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player.

The Israeli side faced a UEFA disciplinary hearing this afternoon for fielding former Wimbledon player Walid Badir in the 4-0 second qualifying round second leg victory over FC Haka on Wednesday night when he had not completed a two-match suspension.

Haifa, who have three days to appeal against their expulsion, had led 1-0 from the first leg and looked to have booked a meeting with Liverpool with a place in the Champions League first group stage at stake.

UEFA’s control and disciplinary body gave Haka a 3-0 win for the second leg because of the Haifa error thereby overturning Haifa’s 1-0 lead from the first leg.

The UEFA statement read: ‘‘Based on the communication received from the Israeli Football Association, Maccabi Haifa were of the opinion that the player had served the suspension by missing the first leg in Finland.

‘‘But according to the control and disciplinary body the club displayed culpable negligence by not clarifying the suspension with UEFA.

‘‘A 3-0 ‘default’ scoreline was therefore imposed in favour of FC Haka, giving the Finnish side a 3-1 aggregate victory in the tie.

‘‘If an appeal is lodged against the decision the hearing will be held on Monday, August 6.’’

Maccabi Haifa club president Yaacov Shahar has blamed the Israeli Football Association for the mix-up.

In a letter to the IFA Shahar said: ‘‘It looks like a mistake by the IFA, they said he would only have to miss one game against Haka.’’

IFA official Yossi Dagan added: ‘‘We sent Haifa a second letter from UEFA on August 1 which said that Badir was suspended for two matches.

‘‘Haifa should have called UEFA to clarify the situation. It is unfair to blame the IFA for this situation.’’