I have finally found that FA webpage

[SkippyjonJones]

That spells out what would happen if Chelsea or Arsenal won the CL but finished outside the top 4.

 

 

I knew I?d saved it somewhere?.

 

 

So next time your manc/bitter workmates harp on about it then here?s what the FA had to say in March 2004.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

am I making out the url correctly to be:

http://www.thefa.com/thefa/contactus/posti...pean_places.htm

 

?

 

Bit difficult to tell, and I'd like to check to see if it has been archived at archive.org

[SkippyjonJones]

yep - thats what the addy was. I copied it on 5/5/05. so it was on the FA site for at about 14 months..

[Guest Kev]

We knew this all along, but the FA forgot to tell the clubs which was why Everton contested it.

 

We were the pawns in the battle between UEFA and the FA.

[owenthomas]

as soon as people got onto that site and started getting in touch with various media outlets the page was soon pulled.. i do remember a site having it archived though so i'd suspect it's that archive site Anders has mentioned.. glad someone's still got it though.. always good to bring back in case of provacation..

[SkippyjonJones]

as soon as someone mentioned the FA taking that page down I thought I'd better get a copy of it....

[_00_deathscar]

Wasn't the FA's excuse that the FAQ was written by some intern?

[Rory Fitzgerald]

POST DELETED - REALISED THE INHERENT MISTAKE

Edited February 5, 2007 by Rory Fitzgerald

[SkippyjonJones]

POST DELETED - REALISED THE INHERENT MISTAKE

Hahahha- I was just going to respond to you as well

[R A Softlad]

Should have asked me Mike, it's archived here.

[SkippyjonJones]

Should have asked me Mike, it's archived here.

It wasn?t for me ? someone was asking for it within the last couple of weeks. I assumed if anyone else had it they would have posted it?.

[Cobs]

Wasn't the FA's excuse that the FAQ was written by some intern?

it was this........

 

 

Many thanks for contacting The Football Association.

 

 

 

The FA has confirmed that the top four teams in the Premiership at the end of the season will enter next season?s UEFA Champions League. The decision follows a recommendation from the Professional Game Board, which was subsequently endorsed by The FA Main Board. This will not be changed whatever the outcome of Liverpool's Champions League Final in Istanbul on 25 May.

 

 

 

However, The FA also believes that if Liverpool win in Istanbul and do not finish in the top four in the Premiership, an extra place should be allocated to them in the Champions League next season. This is ultimately a matter for UEFA, but The FA will continue to make representations on this issue.

 

 

 

The FA?s website published an article on March 10th 2004, detailing qualification criteria for the UEFA Champions League ahead of the Arsenal v Chelsea quarter-final tie. It is important to note that the website was simply publishing an interpretation of the guidelines set by UEFA. This was not a formal policy agreed by The FA?s Board and should not be confused with the issues of qualification for next season?s Champions League involving the fourth placed team in the Premier League and Liverpool.

 

 

 

Due to the ambiguity in UEFA?s regulations on a complex issue, The FA sought clarification from UEFA on their rules. UEFA clearly wanted The FA to make a decision on who should qualify, should Liverpool finish outside the top four and win this season?s Champions League. To reiterate, this matter was debated formally by The FA Board (twice) and Professional Game Board to establish the clear policy which was announced yesterday, stating that the fourth placed team in the Premier League would qualify automatically for the Champions League.

 

 

 

Some supporters have suggested that the decision of The FA to enter the top four teams was influenced by particular members of The FA Board. In fact the decision was taken by the whole board, which has 12 members, so the influence of individual representatives is minimised. Furthermore, there was a consensus on the decision taken.

 

 

 

Again, The FA will continue to lobby UEFA at the highest level ? requesting they reconsider their policy not to allow their champions an automatic place in next season?s competition.

 

 

 

Our procedures are under constant review and as a result we appreciate all the feedback we receive from supporters. Thanks again for taking the trouble to write.

 

 

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

Alex Howells

 

Customer Relations Officer

 

The Football Association

[JRC]

What it does do is kill the argument about 'Well everyone knew the rules at the start of the competition', because this, and the Real precedent, suggests that anyone who did know would have assumed the CL Winners would go through.

 

OK, History now, but the Maschareno 'special dispensation' has meant it is being thrown at us again.

[AJ The Red]

It was me asking for it , just nice to show the bitter people

 

cheers

[Guest Scot]

I actually like telling Everton fans the rules were changed for us because we're special and that they would not change for them, as they are not special.

 

Frothing at the mouth.

[Guz]

I actually like telling Everton fans the rules were changed for us because we're special and that they would not change for them, as they are not special.

 

 

Yup, defending our trophy and also pissing on the blues**** and everyone who doesnt like Liverpool. Great stuff.