http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16230934.stm If the Swiss FA is suspended then the sensible options would be to give Bayern Munich a bye or add the best 3rd place team to the CL knock-out (which is Man City). That would free up a place in the EL Knock-out, and we are the best 3rd place team there. Pretty unlikely series of events but could be quite amusing
I would think it would be prudent for the Swiss FA to fold on this one. I am fairly certain they'll be well aware of the effects of a national ban. Besides, I thought ye lot were glad to be out of the EL?
That's a lot of pressure on Sion over the signing of one player, isn't it? You can't imagine the same would happen to a big Spanish club, for example. Glad to be out of the Europa League? Some are, some aren't. I'm not. I wouldn't like to get back in through this sort of thing, though.
In typical English fashion, the first presumption was that Man Utd would just get Basel's place in the CL knockout stages... Not one, SIX.
There's no presumption, as the article repeatedly states that they could be reinstated. It would be a fairly logical choice though, as they were 3rd in Basle's group. What's with all the anti-English stuff, Croydon? The original punishment was over the signing of one player, Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary.
When the story was reported on Ceefax on Friday, it stated that the beneficiaries of any punishment meted down on the Swiss FA would be Manchester United. Also, on the BBC Football site, there's a link to the story on the Man Utd page - but not Man City's, even though they're equally likely to benefit from the decision. You're just noticing now that I keep pointing out how this country is geared to the few that are deemed worthy, with the assumption that nobody is interested in the many who are not? Their fielding of six ineligible players against Celtic is what's caused it to come to a head, not least because Sion's chairman has been acting like a complete arse about it ever since UEFA kicked them out of the Europa League. He was still banging on about Sion being allowed to re-enter the competition as the final round of fixtures were being played.
I thought that a bit odd too. If Basel were being excluded for an incident during the group stages it might make sense. But if the Swiss are exluded en bloc then it would be inappropriate for a team in their group to benefit. Hence my suggestion of City
Quite agree the Swiss FA will do something to sort it out.Can you imagine what Basel would do to their own FA if they get them thrown out! As for the EL i think most fans wanted to take it more seriously but Harry and injuries to squad players made it awkward.
I wouldn't say that they were equally likely, as Man Utd were in Basle's group. The fact that Man City would be the other candidate would remove the possibility of any pro-English bias though, wouldn't it? Pro-United, possibly, but City are as English as United are. No, but I thought I'd ask why you keep doing it, even on stories where it has absolutely no relevance, like this one. The players were only ineligible because of the transfer embargo that was inflicted on Sion for signing the keeper. The whole thing seems like it's been badly mishandled from start to finish, to me. If only there was a major Swiss figure in world football that could intervene...
As Manchester City are also English, no it wouldn't - but the fact this hasn't been considered, and how it's "only" beneficial to United in the eyes of the BBC, that's why I brought it up. Ignoring the fact that teams from several other countries could benefit and focusing on how it will benefit Manchester United - and Manchester United only - makes it very relevant indeed. It was covered in WSC a few issues back, and the reason they fielded the ineligible players was their chairman adopting an attitude of "What are you going to do, kick us out of the tournament?" So when UEFA did, he's been whining to anyone who'll listen that Sion have been unfairly treated and has gone out of his way to piss UEFA off by demanding Sion be re-instated, taking UEFA to court (and losing), and not taking the hint. In essence, he's dragging down all of Swiss football - but then again, the Swiss FA should've told him to button it as soon as his legal challenge was laughed out of court and the first round of Europa League matches had been played. Lucky for the Swiss, they're on their winter break until February, so their FA can focus all their efforts on locking Christian Constantin in a broom cupboard until it all blows over.
Man Utd do seem like the most likely beneficiaries though, Croydon. City are the next in line after them and I can't even see a way that another side would be considered, without it looking extremely dodgy, to say the least. The likelyhood of the Swiss FA failing to act is minimal anyway, so it'll probably come to nothing.
I can't see why MUPLC are seen as beneficiaries are next in line - Ajax were eliminated on goal difference, rather than having a lower points total than the team in second, whilst Olympiakos amassed the same number of points in their group as MUPLC (and achieved more wins) so they too have a decent shout. But, of course, that's not as important as placating Alex Ferguson's fragile ego in the hope he's nice to the BBC reporters on MOTD this week... I notice sales of gaffa tape have skyrocketed in Switzerland this week. It's probably a coincidence...
Why Man Utd? Because they were in the same group as Basle, simply. If you're going on points scored, then Man City would be next in line.
They won't be chucked out of the Champions League, it's an empty threat. The national team will be the first to suffer with it being removed from FIFA competitions and UEFA may take action, taking away their CL and EL places for next season but that's down to them and not FIFA. If Basel get taken out of the CL, FIFA and UEFA would get sued and lose.
If they are, they should just give Bayern a bye. Reinstating teams to the competition because of some gobshite chairman of a team that were never in contention for the CL opens an industrial container of worms. On the subject of international competitions, and going back to what I said, one story today: England fans may find it difficult to get hotels next summer because of UEFA and FIFA officials hoovering them up. Apparently this won't be a problem for fans of any of the other nations taking part - but I don't think the Poles or Ukrainians are handing over a chunk of their road network so the referees get there on time...
Was this reported in the British media, Croydon? Could that be why it's got quite a British slant on the reporting? Considering that it won't be a problem for fans of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, I don't see what you're objecting to.
It also affects fans of the Republic of Ireland, a nation who are also involved in Euro 2012 and fall under the remit of the Mirror Group (who published the story) and the BBC (who regurgitated it on their website), with a lot of fans who happen to live in England.
Agreed. If it was Basel that had commited the wrong doing then there would be a case for giving their place to Man Utd, though.
Mirror Group publish titles in Ireland, and the BBC is broadcast in Ireland. Also, Irish people live in England.
