UEFA Champions League: Basel Expulsion Will Revive Manchester United Campaign
Manchester United’s Champions League campaign could be back on track with the threat of expulsion hanging over FC Basel, following FIFA’s threat to ban the Swiss FA over the Europa League dispute involving Swiss club Sion.
Were Basel to be thrown out of the tournament, UEFA is expected to review which team would replace them in the knock
out stage of the league. The Swiss Football association has been given until January 13 to comply with FIFA’s instructions on the registration ban on Sion. Failing that, the Swiss FA, and by inference, Basel, will face expulsion from the Champions League.
FIFA has issued an official statement on the impending ban, as follows: “Should this deadline not be respected, the Swiss FA will be automatically suspended from 14 January 2012 onwards. The executive committee decided to give a final deadline of 13 January to the Swiss FA to enforce the registration ban imposed on Sion … and to sanction the attitude of the club repeatedly trying to circumvent this decision in a legally abusive manner.”
With Manchester United having finished third in their Champions League group behind Basel and Benfica, UEFA has confirmed that the Old Trafford squad was in line to replace Basel in the knock out phase of the league. Aletrenatively, Bayern Munich who are due to face Basel in the round of 16, could be given a bye.
Meanwhile, United have been drawn to play Ajax, in the Europa League’s round of 32, are due to travel for the away encounter scheduled on February 16, 2012.
In a statement to Observer Sport, Rob Faulkner, Uefa’s communications head said: “Uefa is confident that the Swiss FA will comply with the Fifa request before the deadline of 13 January 2012 and before the Champions League first leg match between Basel and Bayern Munich on 22 February. Should this not be the case Uefa will review the situation nearer the time.”
The case against Swiss club Sion began when they signed six players while still under a transfer ban after being held guilty of unauthorised use of a player from an Egyptian club, in 2008.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jinxatious is the Chief Editor of SportingAttitude.com
An avid writer, on an eclectic range of subjects, he brings to bear editorial experience garnered with a national newspaper in South-East Asia. He also has sportscasting experience, as a cricket commentator, and his passion for sport extends beyond Cricket, to Football, Tennis, and Olympic Sports.
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
and if the appaling decision goes for Man utd and not the Bayern Munich bye then Ajax shouldn’t get an advantage of the bye and the best place third finishing team should in the europa league play ajax. This is another example how the systems can manuipulate anything. The only reason they want man u in is to increase popularty in the champions league hence more money from tv rights and idiot fans forking the bills by watching the games and sky rights to the game. it’s all about money not sport. i say boycott the fixture if this happens by man u fans and non man u fans alike. sky sports was the worst thing that could happen to the world of football and once again i bet they have orchastrated this.
It’s not man utd i am aiming my opinion or disgust against. if they get through then do what they want and fans can do what they want but it’ll be a hollow victory if they won it and i’d say the same to any team, and to people to get behind basel the real victims.
Sounds like a total fix and makes a complete mockery of the competition. How can anything to do with Sion not even in 2011 or even the champions league have anything to do with Basel. Basel deserved to be there which they did legally. Funny how it comes to light suddenly when the biggest club for the first times fails to get through group stage. You may think this is sour grapes but i would support my decision on any team over this matter even if it was the one i support. If man u do go through they should refuse to play or field a weak team and lose to gain integrety. But they won’t and i certainly wouldn’t be pleased with my team if it happened to them and winning on a technicality. But man u fans love glory and i’m sure they will celebrate no matter what but to me i have no respect for this decision.
Total joke
Feel sorry for Basel.