OTHER ENGLISH CLUBS HIT BY THE FUDGE TO LET LIVERPOOL IN THE CL

Last updated : 19 June 2005 By Ed

This was decided yesterday at the Wastelands when UEFA held their (disrupted) summer conference.

UEFA's executive committee decided that if Liverpool reach the Champions League group stage, the other four English clubs will have to fork out a combined 10 per cent of their market share - about £5 million - to the champions.

This will annoy Everton who are in their first Champions League campaign. But Olsson said the English clubs had only themselves to blame for forcing through Liverpool's participation. (Ed?)

"Their quota of revenue comes out of the English pool," Olsson said. "We have given Liverpool the smallest market share because they came fifth in their league."

He said if the scenario re-occurs the fourth-placed Premiership team would drop into the UEFA Cup to allow the title-holders to compete.

Olsson said: "We would hope the English FA would abide by the rules in the future rather than be told what to do."

However Liverpool will only get 10% of the £20m TV money pot.

Chelsea will get 37.5% (£7.5m), runners-up Arsenal 27.5% (£5.5m), Manchester United and Everton 12.5% (£3.25m) each and Liverpool £2m.