Conference trucks::football;1

A well constructed note Peter!!!! Faultless...

In the season 1997/98 there will play 24 clubs in the Champions league.
6 groups with 4 teams.

The best 8 countries is allowed to start with two clubs.
The Champions of this 8 countries are qualified, the other 8 clubs had to play
a qualifying against the other champions.

News of the UEFA Cup: only one final game, beginning 97/98 

We're moving rapidly towards a European Premiership.

Any thoughts on this folks ?

(Avoiding Peter's question for the moment), the most bizarre thing about this 
extension of the League is that they haven't decided how to make it work yet. 
There'll be another meeting in October.

Amongst the things not settled:

 - how a country selects a second team. It does not have to be the League 
runner-up!

 - which 8 countries qualify for 2 teams. It might not be the UEFA list used 
for everything else

 - do countries with 2 CL teams lose a UEFA Cup spot?

Coming to Peter's point, yes, a league's on its way. Admission by ticket only.

grahame

      
> how a country selects a second team. It does not have to be the League 
> runner-up!

    Didn't we have a discussion about this some time ago ?  I seem to
    remember UEFA suggesting that it might go to the team with the best
    "history" in the competition, or to the highest placed team who had
    actually won the trophy before.  This would obviously guarantee that
    teams like Utd and Liverpool were always in contention for a place,
    something UEFA would find very appealling.
    
> which 8 countries qualify for 2 teams. It might not be the UEFA list used 
> for everything else

    The Express lists the following countries :
    England, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Holland, Portugal and Belgium.
    
    This move towards a European League is, imo, disastrous for the English 
    game.  I for one look forward to games vs Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle, 
    Leeds etc and would be loathe to see those replaced with games vs 
    Anderlecht, FC Porto, PSV etc.  No offence meant to those particular clubs
    but they just don't generate the same passion in me (and other Utd fans I 
    would expect).  Keep the format as it is - if you don't win you're not in. 
    Simple as that.
    

    I have to agree with Dave.... ( my God.. its a world first!!) I'd
    rather they'd leave the European Cup as it is where only the champions
    from each league qualify... the teams are going to end up playing too
    many games with clubs that you've never heard of before, in a cup where
    you don't really care whether you win it or not. 

    I'm much more interested in whether we beat ManU, Liverpool, Newcastle
    rather than the result of games against some Russian team for example. 

    I really don't think the football watching public is  going to stomach
    the �10-�20 Pay-per-View Television charge to watch matches from a full
    European League... I goto football matches partially for the
    atmosphere, the chanting... the songs etc..... you just don't get that
    on TV.. its not the same. ( Although most ManU fans would probably
    disagree with me and say that watching ManU on TV was better than being
    at the ground. )
    
    Cheers,

    	Rick,

 Dinamo Kiew   - RAPID WIEN      2:4 0:2
 A.Wladikawkas - GLASGOW RANGERS 2:7 1:3
 ST.BUCAREST   - FC Br�gge       3:0 2:2
 FENERBAHCE    - Macc.Tel Aviv   1:1 1:0
 Br�ndby IF    - WIDZEW LODZ     3:2 1:2
 Slavia Prag   - GRASHOPPERS     0:1 0:5
 ROS.TRONDHEIM  -Panathinaikos   3:0 0:1   120 min
 Ferencvaros   - IFK GOETEBORG   1:1 0:3

Group A				

Glasgow Rangers
Auxerre
Ajax Amsterdam
Grasshoppers


Group B

Widzew Lodz
Atletico Madrid
Steau Bukarest
Bor. Dortmund


Group C

Manchester United
Rapid Wien
Fenerbahce
Juventus Turin


Group D

FC Porto
IFK Goeteborg
Ros. Trondheim
AC Milan

Champions League Fever hits Zurich. All of the tickets for all 3 of GC's home 
games were sold within 3 days. Mind you, capacity is only 20000. If any are
returned from Rangers, they'll go on sale on Monday morning here. 

I don't believe ticket touts are all that common in Switzerland, so anyone 
coming without a ticket may well not get in.

I paid my first visit last night, coincidentally on the day when I got my 
tickets for the CL games. Price paid last night was Fr30 (about �15). Same 
seat price for CL is Fr120 (though reduced to Fr300 for 3 games). Of course 
what wouldn't we pay for the privilege of watching Gazza!

grahame

     CHAMPIONS LEAGUE                POULE A
     
     Woensdag:                              
     Auxerre           0 AJAX              1
                         Litmanen (4)       
     
     Grasshoppers      3 Glasgow Rangers   0
     Jakin (18)                             
     Turkyilmaz (28,79)                     
     
     Woensdag,25 september:                 
     AJAX              - Grasshoppers      -
     Glasgow Rangers   - Auxerre           -
     
     De stand:                              
     1. Grasshoppers       1 - 3   ( 3 -  0)
     2. AJAX               1 - 3   ( 1 -  0)
     3. Auxerre            1 - 0   ( 0 -  1)
     4. Glasgow Rangers    1 - 0   ( 0 -  3)
     

     CHAMPIONS LEAGUE                POULE B
     
     Woensdag:                              
     Atletico Madrid   4 Steaua Boekarest  0
     Esnaider (32,45)                       
     Simeone (64,85)     Rood: Baciu (28)   
     
     Bor.Dortmund      2 Widzew Lodz       1
     Herrlich (45,68)    Citko (84)         
     
     Woensdag,25 september:                 
     Widzew Lodz       - Atletico Madrid   -
     Steaua Boekarest  - Borussia Dortmund -
     
     De stand:                              
     1. Atletico Madrid    1 - 3   ( 4 -  0)
     2. Borussia Dortmund  1 - 3   ( 2 -  1)
     3. Widzew Lodz        1 - 0   ( 1 -  2)
     4. Steaua Boekarest   1 - 0   ( 0 -  4)
     

       CHAMPIONS LEAGUE                POULE C
     
     Woensdag:                              
     Rapid Wien        1 Fenerbahce        1
     Stumpf (69)         Bolis (30)         
     
     Juventus          1 Manchester United 0
     Boksic (34)                            
     
     Woensdag,25 september:                 
     Manchester United - Rapid Wien        -
     Fenerbahce        - Juventus          -
     
     De stand:                              
     1. Juventus           1 - 3   ( 1 -  0)
     2. Fenerbahce         1 - 1   ( 1 -  1)
     3. Rapid Wien         1 - 1   ( 1 -  1)
     4. Manchester United  1 - 0   ( 0 -  1)
     

     CHAMPIONS LEAGUE                POULE D
     
     Woensdag:                              
     IFK G�teborg      2 Rosenborg         3
     Erlingmark (38,49)  Jakobsen (32)      
                         Iversen (52)       
                         Brattbakk (64)     
     AC Milan          2 FC Porto          3
     Simone (14)         Artur (52)         
     Weah (68)           Jardel (75,82)     
     
     Woensdag,25 september:                 
     FC Porto          - IFK G�teborg      -
     Rosenborg         - AC Milan          -
     
     De stand:                              
     1. FC Porto           1 - 3   ( 3 -  2)
     2. Rosenborg          1 - 3   ( 3 -  2)
     3. IFK G�teborg       1 - 0   ( 2 -  3)
     4. AC Milan           1 - 0   ( 2 -  3)
    
    

 Manchester U.  - FC Porto     4:0 (2:0)
 54.000; May (22.), Cantona (34.), Giggs
 (61.), Cole (80.)
 
 Bor.Dortmund   - AJ Auxerre   3:1 (1:0)
 47.000; Riedle (12.), Schneider (54.).
 M�ller (83.); Lamouchi (75.)
 Red Card: Reuter (89./Dortmund)
 Interesting game, a dram goal 1:0 (goal of the year), 
 6 goals , 2 not given (both teams)
 
 
 Ros.Trondheim  - Juv.Turin    1:1 (0:0)
 20.000; Soltvedt (51.); Vieri (52.)
 
 Ajax Amsterdam - Atl.Madrid   1:1 (0:1)
 51.000; Kluivert (53.); Esnaider (8.)

    Football-Life ban for former Swiss referee
    
    GENEVA, March 27 (Reuter) - UEFA has imposed a life ban on former Swiss
    referee Kurt Roethlisberger for attempted bribery. 
    
    UEFA said on Thursday that Roethlisberger admitted attempted bribery
    during investigations into a European Champions' League match between
    Grasshopper Zurich and Auxerre on October 30. 

What an incredible story! Are they saying that the investigation is into the 
ref accepting bribes for the game, and now he's tried to bribe UEFA?!

Auxerre were pretty disappointing (they lost 3-1), but I can't rememember any 
dodgy decisions at the moment.

g (maybe I should stay here if there's a chance of some underthetable cash!)

    Not the first time he has had himself in hot water.........
    
    
    Top referee banned for life
    
    UEFA has imposed a life ban on former Swiss referee Kurt Roethlisberger
    for attempted bribery. 
    
    UEFA said on Thursday that Roethlisberger admitted attempted bribery
    during investigations into a European Champions' League match between  
    Grasshopper Zurich and Auxerre on October 30. 
    
    UEFA said Roethlisberger, a former World Cup referee, had contacted
    Grasshopper general manager Erich Vogel and visited his offices on
    October 18. 
    
    ``Mr Roethlisberger asked whether Grasshopper-Club would be interested
    in the referee of the Grasshopper-Club-A.J. Auxerre match on 30th
    October 1996 not giving decisions against Grasshopper-Club,'' said
    UEFA, after the ruling by its Control and Disciplinary Committee on    
    Tuesday. 
    
    ``This would obviously involve financial compensation, and the sum of
    100,000 Swiss Francs ($68,600) was mentioned. Mr Roethlisberger said he
    was friendly with the referee, and that it would be easy to arrange the 
    matter.'' 
    
    Roethlisberger's actions were reported to UEFA by Grasshopper who won
    the match 3-1. 
    
    ``In the course of the investigations, Mr Roethlisberger admitted
    attempted bribery,'' UEFA said. 
    
    UEFA said investigations concerning the match referee Vadim Zhuk of
    Belarus were continuing. Zhuk will not officiate as a FIFA referee
    until the investigations have been concluded. 
    
    ``Through his action, Kurt Roethlisberger has violated principles which
    are indispensable for sport, namely those of loyalty, integrity and    
    sportsmanlike conduct,'' said UEFA in a statement. 
    
    ``The matter is all the more regrettable as Kurt Roethlisberger is a
    well-known figure, who was a FIFA referee for a considerable number of 
    years.'' 
    
    Roethlisberger has previously run into trouble with the world governing
    body FIFA. 
    
    He was sent home in disgrace from the 1994 World Cup in the
    United States after admitting he should have awarded Belgium a penalty 
    during their 3-2 defeat by Germany in a second round match. 
    
    The following year he was suspended for three months for misusing his
    position as a FIFA referee in a campaign to win a seat in the Swiss    
    parliament. 
    
    Roethlisberger has until midnight April 2 to lodge an appeal against
    the UEFA ruling.
    

Thanks, Stretch. So even refs get dodgy agents. Everyone wants a piece of the 
action these days . . .

g

Is this Eric mate who was in charge of the Galatasery match in 93'

B@ 

    
    Just saw a latest score.....Ajax 0  Juventus 2   (14min & 41min)
    
    Game still going.....but looks very bleak for Ajax obviously.
    
    Trevor

    
    Ajax 1  Juventus 2
    
    Bor. Dortmund 1  Man Utd 0   (76 mins - don't know any details)
    
    Internet headlines "Dortmund move closer to to 1st Euro final"....
    ....I hardly think a 1-0 home win justifies THAT headline, not when
    they face the 2nd leg at Old Trafford.
    
    Ajax appear to be "done" for this year...but I'm sure they don't see it
    that way either.
    
    Trevor

    Does anyone know the structure for the preliminary's of the champion's
    league. I've heard 8 through and 16 more to qualify from 2 rounds, but
    that would take another 64 teams if everyone was involved, but from
    what i can gather their will be only 24 teams and 16 to qualify and if
    theirs 2 round's who'll get the bye's for the first round.
    
    Thanks 
    
    Tony

    
    
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    The NEW UEFA Champions League
    -----------------------------
    In Season 1997-98 24 teams will participate in the Champions League.
    This will contain the following teams decided by the listed methods:
    
    1. Those teams ranked 1-8 decided by the UEFA coefficient list who will
    AUTOMATICALLY enter the Champions League.
    -----------------------------
    The remaining 16 teams will enter by the following method:
    
    1. Preliminary Round 1 (32 teams) to be played on July 23rd and 30th
    involving those countries ranked between 17 and 48 with the winners
    progressing to a further preliminary round.
    
    2. Preliminary Round 2 (32 teams) to be played on August 13th and 27th
    involving the 16 winners from Round 1 along with the 8 Champions of
    those countries ranked between 9 and 16 PLUS the 8 RUNNERS-UP in the 
    national leagues of those teams ranked 1-8.
    
    3. The 16 winners of Preliminary Round 2 will join the 8 automatic
    entrants in the Champions League proper.
    -----------------------------
    The losing teams in the SECOND qualifying round only will enter Round 1
    of the UEFA Cup.
    -----------------------------
    The group phase will consist of 6 groups with 4 teams in each.
    The 6 group winners and the 2 best runners-up qualify for the quarter
    finals.
    -----------------------------
    The following criteria will determine the 2 runners-up for the quarter
    finals:
    
    1. Total points gained.
    2. Goal Difference.
    3. Total goals scored.
    4. Total goals scored away from home.
    
    If any teams are still unable to be seperated, UEFA will decide the
    further criteria to be applied.
    -----------------------------
    The 2 teams qualifying for the quarter finals as runners-up will play
    their first leg at home.
    
    They can both be drawn against any other team except the club which
    they played against in the group.
    -----------------------------
    It will be possible for one country to have 3 clubs in the Champions
    League if the winners of the current seasons Champions League finish 
    outside the top two in their domestic league.
    
    If this does happen then the team from the country ranked 48 in the
    coefficient will not enter the Champions League qualifying and will
    enter Round 1 of the UEFA Cup instead.
    -----------------------------
    UEFA have stated that regardless of whatever circumstances arise
    regarding qualification, number 3 in a domestic league will not be invited.
    
    Liam

    
    So Germany will have 3 teams in the Champions league next season ;-)
    
    Dezzz.

    re: 571.60
    
    Why do UEFA have to fart around with "best runners-up" scenarios ? 
    With 8 seeded teams/countries, and only 6 groups, it doesn't take
    Einstein to realise that 2 groups will have 2 seeded teams, whereas the
    other groups will only have 1.  Why not just have 8 groups of 4 with
    the winners only qualifying for the quarter-finals ?
    
    Also, why should teams finishing second in their league have priority
    over the champions of (supposedly) lesser countries ?  From what I
    understand, the 8 "chosen" runners-up will enter the qualifying stages
    in round 2, whereas 16 champion teams will have to enter in round 1. 
    Absolute b*ll*cks !  Why don't they just call it the Euro-League and
    make it invitation-only thereby ensuring that Milan, Juve, Barca, Real
    Madrid, Benfica, Porto, Ajax, Bayern Munich etc can compete every year
    ?

    >Absolute b*ll*cks !  Why don't they just call it the Euro-League and
    >make it invitation-only thereby ensuring that Milan, Juve, Barca, Real
    >Madrid, Benfica, Porto, Ajax, Bayern Munich etc can compete every year
    ?

    Ooooh Dave !!! now that would seem radical....that of course is the not
    so hidden agenda.
    
    Why don't they take all the arrogant big clubs including Manchester
    United and make a European league ...take them out of the country
    leagues and let EVERYBODY else get on with the European competitions
    the way they USED to be before 1990 when this STUPID Champions league
    thing all started.
    
    NO SEEDS ...let's have some decent matches in Autumn instead of the
    drained displays we have become accustomed to from the so advertised
    'big match ups'....
    
    Thanl God cricket doesn't have the money to wreck the sport in the way
    that UEFA and FIFA are doing to football.....
    
    Dezzz.