Welsh champions offer solution to UEFA

Liverpool have been offered a bizarre solution to UEFA’s insistence they will not be allowed to defend the European Cup they won in such dramatic circumstances last night.

European football’s governing body have long been adamant just four places in next season’s Champions League are available to the Barclays Premiership.

As per the rules, the Football Association recently confirmed the top four finishers in the league – Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton – will take up those places.

But the FA are now strenuously lobbying for Liverpool to join them following an amazing night in Istanbul when boss Rafael Benitez’s side came from 3-0 down at half-time to Serie A giants AC Milan to force a penalty shoot-out in which the Reds triumphed 3-2.

UEFA’s executive committee are to meet in Manchester on June 17, when it is anticipated the thorny issue of special dispensation will be discussed.

However, it is likely the issue will fall on deaf ears and they will have to compete in the UEFA Cup – a prospect which is hardly an enticing one for captain Steven Gerrard.

But Mike Harris, chairman of Welsh Premier League champions TNS, believes he has found an answer, one which would serve Liverpool’s purpose and boost the coffers of his own club in the process.

Harris is proposing a one-off game, with the winner taking up a place in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, which belongs to TNS by right.

“We’ve an open mind to a pre-qualifier for our position in the Champions League,” said Harris on BBC Wales Sport

“Such a play-off would enjoy huge media coverage. It would bring the image of our league to the whole of the UK.

“We suffer immensely compared to other nations because we’re right next door to the English Premiership which takes all the media and all the cash.

“We as a nation and as [Welsh Premier] clubs are trying to put very stringent UEFA criteria in place in terms of our grounds which needs massive investment.

“Such a game would help us achieve some of our ambitions – and with a bit of luck we might beat them.”

There is a drawback, and that is convincing the relevant governing bodies, especially UEFA.

Harris added: “We would be supportive of this idea if it could be achieved with the approval of UEFA, the English FA and the FA of Wales, without in any way devaluing our league’s future place in Europe.”