Champions League - Real given selection dilemma

Eurosport - Mon, 29 Dec 23:23:00 2008

UEFA have told Real Madrid they must choose between new signings Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra to play in the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

FOOTBALL 2008-9 Real Madrid Lassana Diarra - 0

"I am very sorry, but the rules are what they are and they cannot be changed in the middle of a season," said UEFA vice-president William Gaillard.

"That means that only one of the two players can play in the Champions League.

"They can include either Huntelaar or Diarra."

The Spanish champions, plagued by injuries and poor form this season, signed Dutch striker Huntelaar and French midfielder Diarra (pictured) this month from Ajax and English side Portsmouth respectively.

But under UEFA rules only one of them can play in the Champions League as both have already represented their former clubs in Europe this season.

Real had hoped to convince European football's governing body to agree to a different interpretation of the rule so that both players could take part.

The club has been drawn against Liverpool in the Champions League first knockout round on February 25 and March 10.

The club - who are fifth in the Spanish title race some 12 points adrift of Barcelona - have suffered season-ending injuries to key players Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Malian midfielder Mahamadou Diarra.

UEFA rules for the 2008-09 season state that a club may register up to three new players for the knockout stage of the Champions League.

But only one of these can be a player who has represented his former club in Europe, and provided it was in another European competition. Both Ajax and Portsmouth were competing in the UEFA Cup this season.

AFP

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. hey stewarts_52027

    dont you watch la liga they barely­ play raul mostly its higuain but i think you have a­ point on them playing diarra they have far 2 much­ forwards and strikers

    From chrisaguiar11, on Fri 2 Jan 7:37PM

  2. play Diarra, i think dat he has more of a chance 2 get­ into the madrid team. just look at klass jan huntelaar,­ he has no chance of getting in2 the teamcoz of van­ nesterooy and raul!dat is my opinion anyway!

    From stewarts_52027, on Fri 2 Jan 5:12PM

  3. Let Huntelaah go in. Diarra should wait. Against­ Liverpool, Madrid need strong firing power to counter­ Liverpools style of play and their water-tight defence.­ My nud goes to the goal hunter.

    From Luxy, on Fri 2 Jan 5:09PM

  4. Even if the 2 of them were playing Liverpool would­ still knock out Real Madrid without 2 much bother.

    From justinbowie1, on Thu 1 Jan 5:33PM

  5. Typical Real Madrid.YAWN. Always think they can bend­ the rules.

    Liverpool are going to batter you. You­ were a good team !!!

    From cmdceramics, on Wed 31 Dec 2:59PM

  6. for me personally i think diara would be the best­ replacement for now.In all top teams when the midfield­ can hold every other sector can hold too,a good and­ standing midfield pushes for strikers to score and if­ they got raul then they got goals too so diara should­ be the choice alright.

    From UberSweetie0, on Wed 31 Dec 12:41PM

  7. Typical Madrid stupidity . It will not make any­ difference ,though.Their season is already over. Idiots­ !!

    From Tim, on Wed 31 Dec 9:07AM

  8. but however, there is NO Gerrard for liverpool, so­ byebye Liver's pool

    From Dave, on Tue 30 Dec 6:55PM

  9. what a foolish thing again from UEFA...only one­ person... REal madrid misses the half of the team and­ finally they could engage to stars, and s.t.u.p.i.d­ UEFA has these silly rules...woaa, but this is­ life...made up of liars and cheaters...but should be­ HUNTELAAR the one to be selected, because every team­ has a good striker, but Madrid... (Raul, Higuain,­ Saviola is NOT ENAUGH at ALL.)

    From Dave, on Tue 30 Dec 6:54PM

  10. Liverpluds bye-bye

    From optimus prime, on Tue 30 Dec 6:42AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i think that saviola is a gr8 striker, very wierd that­ he is second to G.Hugain. If they have to choose,­ although i hate them, i think that Diarra should be­ picked as they haven;t had trouble scoring goals, but­ rather trouble holding the midfield, keeping the ball,­ and keeping a lead! I still hate Real but thats the­ wise decision

    From omar.fahmy24, on Tue 30 Dec 5:25AM

  12. Doesn't matter....LIVERPOOL

    From keith, on Tue 30 Dec 4:31AM

  13. It is ridiculous that in a World class club like Real­ Madrid nobody was aware of this UEFA rule and they only­ became aware of it when the Spanish Sports paper MARCA­ wrote it. I think the whole Real Madrid management­ should be fired.

    From Tommy, on Tue 30 Dec 4:18AM

  14. The selection should be diarra as he is more versatile­ and covers a need in DM. While klaas is ok in his own­ right, he is not a match winner and Real has enough­ fire power upfront to feel his absence less.

    From toslat, on Tue 30 Dec 3:47AM

  15. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar should be­ selected........................

    From Abba kibiya, on Tue 30 Dec 2:12AM

  16. They aren't gunna score from midfield and they have­ a lot of midfielders. Considering huntelaars scoring­ record he can score the vital goals.

    From nezvedz, on Tue 30 Dec 1:09AM

  17. I am not too sure about the dutch striker but I would­ choose Lassana Diara over Van hantelaar because the­ midfield is very critical for Rea now. Ramos can always­ put Raul and Saviola as the primary strikers who can­ score the goals for now

    From Joe Y, on Mon 29 Dec 11:53PM
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